Following a scheduled meeting with representatives of Splashmins Resort on Thursday, the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce is expected to now meet with 29-year-old Ravindra Compton, who is currently suffering from a suspected piranha bite which he sustained at the resort.
According to the ministry’s communication officer, Cordell McClure, the ministry’s staff who are investigating the matter met with persons from the resort who provided information on the incident. The ministry will now meet with Compton to hear his version, after which an official determination of the matter will be made.
Compton had previously told Stabroek News that he suspects that he was bitten by the fish due to the imprint of the sharp teeth. This happened when he and his family visited the resort and were under a benab which is next to the water. He emphasised that his foot was not touching the ground and so it could not have been a cut that he suffered.
“We arrived there like after twelve on Monday… me and my family and everything was normal, everybody was in there around the water and so on and then later on while I was there I feel something bite my foot, I know it couldn’t be a cut I get because my foot wasn’t touching the ground, it was in the water yes but it wasn’t touching the ground and I feel something bite my foot and I start see blood… so I tell my family check and when they check they said it was a bite after that everybody started to get scared and panic.”
He noted that after the incident, his family summoned a female representative of the resort who aided in bandaging the injury and later gave them $20,000 to seek medical attention. However, when he called back on Tuesday to see what they had to say, the situation took a sudden turn when a male representative informed him that the incident was not the resort’s responsibility and that the area where it happened belongs to the state.
“Nobody never call we back to find out anything…is I call them on Tuesday to see what they would say…a guy answer the phone but he didn’t really identify he self…and then he turn and tell me that what happen there is not their responsibility that it’s state land and that if I don’t know that fifty feet from the water is Government reserve.”
He had stated in his Facebook post that the area was fenced by the resort which is a clear indication that it was within their boundaries.
Compton had also told this newspaper that although the bite was still bleeding heavily, he was more concerned about the safety of children visiting the resort with their families. Stabroek News again attempted on Friday to seek a comment from an authorised person from the resort but was however told that she had already left for the day.
