The body of a 21-year-old man was recovered last Sunday around 1 pm after the boat he was travelling in capsized in the Kamarang River in Region Seven on Thursday last.
The incident occurred around 9 pm. The deceased, Wesford Edwin, of Paruima Village Region Seven, was at the time accompanied by a Venezuelan national who is said to be in a relationship with the dead man’s cousin. The man had volunteered to transport Edwin home, across the Kamarang River, after he (Edwin) had attended a family gathering at the cousin’s home. The two were said to have been drinking.
While crossing the river, the boat suddenly capsized and according to witnesses, the Venezuelan did not raise an alarm immediately, but waited a few minutes before alerting nearby residents as to what had happened. A search party was subsequently formed and the boat was located but there was no sign of Edwin.
The family of the deceased however, are insisting that foul play may be involved and they are requesting an independent investigator to look into what really transpired since they are not satisfied with the way the matter was handled by the police officer attached to the village.
The deceased’s sister, Alana Daniels, of Paruima Village, told Stabroek News that when her brother’s body was discovered on Sunday, the police officer asked her if she wanted an autopsy done on the body as it is expensive to do. She told him that the family couldn’t afford the procedure at the time and they agreed for the burial to take place that same day, around 3 pm, since there was no facility for storing a body. She noted that before the body was buried, medical personnel attached to the village had examined the body but up to now she hasn’t been given any information concerning the examination.
Daniels recalled that when the body was found, the police told the family that there were no bruises on Edwin’s head and neck. She confirmed that her brother knew how to swim and is concerned that the police chose not to question the eyewitnesses. The family now regrets that an autopsy was not done.
An attempt was made to contact the commander of Region 7, Senior Superintendent Dion Moore for further information but he could not be reached.
