A Region One pastor died after his boat collided with another in the Moruca River yesterday afternoon while he was in his way to pick up his son.
The deceased has been identified as 53-year-old Rudolph Jerrad Henry, of Parakeese Island, Santa Rosa, in Region One, Barima-Waini.
According to the police, the fatal accident occurred at about 13.30 hours and involved two vessels, one which was being captained by 31-year-old Nikita Miller, a businesswoman of Chinese Landing, Barama River, North West District and the other by the now deceased Henry.
It was reported that at the time, Miller was piloting her boat in the vicinity of Mora Village in the Moruca River, heading to Chinese Landing when her boat and Henry’s collided.
The accident resulted in Henry sustaining injuries and he was rushed to the Kumaka District Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival. His body is presently at the hospital mortuary awaiting a post-mortem examination.
The dead man’s son, Craig Henry, yesterday told Stabroek News that he had just arrived from Georgetown and was waiting at Kumaka Landing for his father to pick him up and take him home to Parakeese.
The younger Henry is still trying to come to grips what had happened. He told this newspaper that his father was piloting his 15-horsepower boat heading to Kumaka Landing when a 75-horsepower boat collided with him.
The son noted that the accident occurred not very far away from the landing and that his father suffered severe head injuries from which he later succumbed.
The now deceased Henry was a pastor at Wallaba Full Gospel in Region One. After the news circulated, the Moruca District Council expressed its condolences to the man’s family in a post on their Facebook page which stated, “One person lost their life this afternoon due to a boat accident. Information reaching us is that Pastor Rudolph Henry of Parakeese, Santa Rosa Village, Moruca, lost his life…we extend sincere condolences to the family and friends of the late Mr. Henry.” The council further urged their fellow Moruca vehicle drivers and boat captains to be cautious when using the Moruca road and river.
This was the second fatal river accident for this week, with two children, 5-year-old Reshanna Atkinson, and one-year-old Josiah Atkinson perishing last Tuesday when the boat they were in, along with their parents capsized in the vicinity of St Monica in the Upper Pomeroon River.
At the time the two children were sleeping and according to their father, Bhinauth Atkinson, the engine had collided with a floating object in the river which resulted in the boat capsizing. The parents managed to swim ashore but were unable to save the children.
Also, just last month, a cameraman, Trevor Patrick, who was at the time on an assignment with other media workers from the Office of the President died when the boat that he was in capsized. It was said that at the time that President Irfaan Ali was conducting outreaches along the Pomeroon River.
As a result of frequent river accidents, a series of questions have been raised about the ability and commitment of the Maritime Administration Department to patrol these areas and reduce these occurrences.
