The investigation into the two reported piranha attacks at the Splashmins Resort is expected to be completed by the end of this week according to the Public Relations Officer of the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce (MTIC), Cordell Mc Clure.
Mc Clure on Wednesday told Stabroek News that since the incidents were reported, an investigation was launched which comprised of representatives from both the MTIC and the Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries Department and when it is completed by the end of this week a report will be sent out.
This newspaper had previously reported on the two reported attacks which occurred on 29-year-old Ravindra Compton on January 2nd and on a 24-year-old female on January 28th when they were both visiting the resort which is located on the Linden\Soesdyke Highway with their family and friends.
Compton had told Stabroek News that he and his family was sitting under a benab in the resort boundary with his foot hanging down, merely touching the water when he felt as though something slightly jumped up and bit him.
“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.”
The victim noted that after the incident they summoned someone from the resort who bandaged the suspected bite. He said that although they had gave him the sum of $20,000 to take care of the medical bills, they later contended that the incident was not their responsibility.
Meanwhile, the other victim who wished to remain anonymous said that after she was bitten, barely any help was offered to her from the resort’s representatives.
“When the resort’s first aid personnel came like he didn’t know what to do and my boyfriend just took my foot and wrap it up with a piece of cloth…all he ask is if we were eating in the water and we told him no…then another man came and said that he was the owner son and he as well started to ask if we were eating in the water and everybody keep telling him no no because at that point everyone was already upset because they didn’t come with any proper help they just come to ask those questions…and then he said that it have piranha in the water and that they usually come around when persons eating in the water.”
Since the reports of both incidents, efforts by this newspaper to contact someone from the resort have proved futile.
