The body of Tactical Services Unit (TSU) Special Constable Akeem Hyles, who is feared drowned after the boat he was in capsized in the Amatuk Falls area, Potaro River on Friday, has not yet been recovered, while concern has been voiced over the fact that he was not wearing a lifejacket at the time of the mishap.
Divisional Commander Ravindradat Budhram told Stabroek News that a team of ranks left for the area yesterday morning to search but up to press time last evening there had been no sighting of the young man’s body.
Hyles, 22, and eight other policemen were accompanying other Joint Services personnel and officials of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) to the area on an operation to halt illegal mining at Kaieteur National Park.
Budhram stated that he is unsure of how many persons were in the boat with Hyles, while explaining that there were several boats transporting the personnel that was part of the operation.
He said that after the mishap, the policemen withdrew from the operation and are now in Mahdia.
Observers have expressed concerns at the continued practice of persons not wearing lifejackets when traversing the country’s rivers. The water in rivers like the Potaro, particularly close to waterfalls, are rough and travellers could put their lives at risk by not wearing lifejackets.
The country’s maritime law states that all persons travelling in boats must be outfitted with lifejackets.
Asked about this, the commander, who also expressed concern, said that the boat captain will have to explain why Hyles was not wearing a lifejacket. He stated too that it is the duty of a boat captain to ensure that all passengers in his vessel are wearing one.
The police had said in a press release that Hyles was among the team that departed the Ogle Airport on Friday morning. He disappeared after the vessel capsized and is suspected to have drowned.
In a separate statement, the Ministry of Natural Resources stated that Minister Raphael Trotman was saddened by the incident and his prayers are with the relatives of the missing rank.
It said, the “Government of Guyana commenced an operation with support from the Joint Services to halt illegal mining activities that have been on the increase in and around the Kaieteur National Park.”
No information was given about the status of the raid.
