Missing: 18-year-old Dominic Bernard

TIMES INT'L

An investigation has been launched into the death of the Meten-Meer-Zorg fisherman, whose body was discovered on Monday in the Berbice River.

Shahabudeen Haniff, 49, of Lot 191 West Meten-Meer-Zorg, West Coast Demerara, was discovered dead in the net of a fishing vessel after it was alleged that he fell off a trawler he was working on.

Family members of the victim told this newspaper that the other crew members of the trawler that Haniff was on were all arrested and were being held at a police station in Berbice for questioning as foul play was suspected.

According to reports received, Haniff, who has been working at sea on trawlers for about 12 years, left for work on Sunday evening and around 06:00 h on Monday, the family, received a call stating that he was missing.

His body was then discovered around 14:00h by a fishing vessel entangled in a fishing seine.

Family members travelled to Georgetown where they identified his body.

Bibi Zamill Khan, the sister of Haniff, told this newspaper that her brother had no enemies as he had been living alone for quite a number of years since he and his wife separated.

“Shahab came by me and he was unhappy about going on the trawler this time around. He did not explain his reasons for this, but he was adamant that he did not want to go.”

She added that the other members of the crew had to make several calls to him as he was not going to go with them before he decided to take the trip.

She further stated that the crew was not the usual team he would go to sea with.

“We are not familiar with the persons that he worked with this time, so we can’t say who the others are. They did not contact us to give us any information whatsoever, we just heard that they were arrested. He usually does not disclose to us where he is going to work, all he says is that he is going on the trawler,” she explained.

She also told this newspaper that as Haniff was the youngest of seven brothers and sisters, they were not comfortable with him working at sea as it was usually dangerous and his dying at sea has confirmed their fears.

Haniff leaves to mourn his two children and siblings.

Related posts