As police near the end of their investigation into the Pomeroon River crash that claimed the life of a farmer on Tuesday, the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) coastguardsman who was captaining the vessel that struck a civilian boat remains in custody.
Ryan Khayum, 32, of Marbaru, Pomeroon River, Essequibo, drowned after the vessel belonging to the GDF Coast Guard crashed into his boat while he and his wife, Chandanie Khayum, 26, along with two workers were on their way home on Tuesday night.
Region Two Police Commander Crystal Robinson yesterday told Stabroek News that investigators are wrapping up their investigation, after which they will seek legal advice.
Robinson also confirmed that the captain of the Coast Guard vessel remained in police custody and was assisting with the investigation. She noted that while a breathalyzer test was administered to the rank, she would not release the results.
Khayum’s body was found floating on Wednesday afternoon in the Pomeroon River, a short distance away from the site of the crash.
Yesterday, Ramroop Mahase, an in-law of the dead man, told this newspaper that the boat collision occurred at Martindale, Pomeroon River, where the farmer’s wife had stopped to make a payment to an avocado farmer.
“They just pulled out from the farmers landing when this Coast Guard vessel come and hit them from the back. It had no light on. My niece [and the others] were traveling in a 45ft steel boat and they had lights on but the boat fold up,” Mahase said.
He also said that persons at the Charity Wharf after hearing of the accident rushed to the scene and rendered assistance but they were unable to find Ryan.
Mahase said the first responders had to perform cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on Chandanie as she was unconscious after being rescued. The woman was hospitalised for two days. Due to the impact, parts of the woman’s head were swollen.
The distance from the crash site to Charity is approximately a mile and a half, while the GDF floating base is located at the mouth of the Pomeroon River in the vicinity of Wakapau.
Mahase further related that persons at the Charity Wharf informed them that the Coast Guards were seen drinking at a bar earlier in the night.
“This is a normal thing they do; sometimes they come in uniform sometimes they don’t have on uniform but on Monday night they had on uniform and a lady selling on the wharf said when the Coast Guard left they pulled off with a speed and continued with that speed,” he recounted. “These men have too much free time and because they are not supervised they behave reckless. This is not the first time they are doing this.”
Additionally, Mahase informed this newspaper that following the collision all the uninjured persons were taken to the Charity Police Station and gave statements. He related that Khayum’s family members were asked to stay outside as the police conducted preliminary investigations.
“The officer who was leading the investigation asked us to wait outside and when the investigation is finished he will update the family and we comply. But then we started to see the army people, who came from the Essequibo Coast base leaving and other police leaving. We had to go back to the investigator to find out what was happening because he was about to drive off too. And I tell him he wasn’t keeping his promise to update us. Then is when he tell us that they conduct a breathalyzer test and it showed the rank had alcohol in his system,” Mahase related.
Further, Mahase said that the deceased’s body was discovered after the man’s wife joined the search party and directed the divers where to look.
According to a press release issued by the GDF, ongoing investigations have so far revealed that GDF Coast Guard vessel, the GDFS HAWK 1028, which had four ranks on board, was returning from Charity, Essequibo, to the floating base when the accident took place.
The GDF has since commenced a Board of Inquiry to investigate the circumstances surrounding the accident.
Stabroek News yesterday attempted to contact GDF personnel for an update on its investigation, but calls to the numbers given went unanswered.
Ryan Khayum is expected to be laid to rest today.
