Body of drowned GWI employee recovered

TIMES INT'L

The  body of 22-year-old Michelle Benjamin, who drowned after the boat she was travelling in capsized was on Tuesday morning found by a search party in the Parika area. The boat reportedly overturned on Sunday, with nine other passengers on board at Aliki in the Essequibo River.

Guyana Times International understands that Benjamin, of Gordon Street, Kitty, was on a family trip from Bird Island to Aliki when around 15:20 hours, the boat was apparently pierced by an object and as such water seeped into the vessel forcing the panicking passengers to jump overboard.  Boats which were in the vicinity rescued nine persons, and soon after it was discovered that Benjamin was missing. 

Benjamin’s relatives declined to speak about the incident. Her employers at GWI’s head office on Vlissengen Road when asked to comment on reports they received, said that Benjamin’s relatives have asked the company not to publicise the incident. However, Public Relations Officer Timothy Austin on Tuesday said management is saddened by the unfortunate incident, adding that Benjamin’s colleagues are still trying to overcome their sudden grief. He said GWI officials have also offered their support to Benjamin’s relatives although the incident did not occur while she was on duty. 

On Tuesday, Benjamin’s colleagues and friends continued to express sadness via social networking site Facebook.

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