Second body recovered

Three days after Richard Harvey Smith called “Maga”, 38, of 126 Da Silva Street, Newtown, Kitty fell victim of a river tragedy, his body was found on Wednesday at the Devonshire Castle Foreshore, Essequibo Coast.

He was one of the four men who went missing after the boat in which they were travelling capsized on Sunday in the Essequibo River. His remains are at the Suddie Hospital Mortuary awaiting autopsy.

According to information, his body is partly decomposed but was identified by a few pieces of clothes he was wearing upon the discovery. The news of the man’s demise has left his relatives puzzled, since this is the first time his name was officially mentioned as one of the men who went missing since Sunday.

Speaking with Guyana Times International , Wendy De Roche’, the man’s sister said that the last time she spoke to her brother was some time last week, but she had promised to telephone him on Sunday to collect some shrimp.

“I called him on Sunday but the phone was turned off. I tried again numerous times but again the phone went to voice mail. It was until Monday evening that we received a call from the owner of the boat telling us that ‘Maga’ went on sea and the boat toppled,” the woman related.

De Roche further stated that on Wednesday, they received another call informing them that his body was washed ashore, and that it was necessary for a relative to travel to Essequibo to identify his remains.

“When we arrived, it was a horrible scene; his body was swollen and he was wearing his underwear and a vest that the mortician took off upon his discovery. We are not certain what the post mortem will say but I know my brother was (a) good swimmer and he could have died from dehydration and hunger,” the woman said.

Another sister, Jacqueline De Roche said that the family is soliciting answers because Smith’s name was never mentioned as being one of the guys who went missing.

“We were told that one man survived and related to the police what happened. Why isn’t that man in police custody? We went to speak with him at the hospital after we learnt that he was transferred to Georgetown but we subsequently learnt that he took self discharge and cannot be located,” the frustrated woman noted.

She is calling on the relevant authorities to look into the matter so that the family can be satisfied.

On Tuesday, Kumar Narine of Lot, 43 Vigilance, East Coast Demerara (ECD) was washed up at the Hampton Court foreshore. His body was discovered around 06: 30h.

Smith and Narine were part of a five-member crew that sank on February 4, off the Suddie Sea Coast while taking an outboard engine to a West Coast Demerara boat that was robbed by pirates at the mouth of the Pomeroon River last Friday. The two other men who are still missing are Shafeek “Baby” Khan, 37, of Lot 77 Vigilance South, ECD and Damodar “Racko” Khemraj, 33, of 102 Vigilance South, ECD. Following the mishap, Ganeshwar Reddy called “Smallie”, one of the occupants of the boat was rescued by fishermen at the Jib foreshore, some 12 miles from where the boat capsized.

It was reported that the men left the Meadow Bank Wharf, East Bank Demerara at about 15: 00h on Saturday last with additional outboard engines in order to render assistance to one of the fishing crews that was attacked and robbed by armed men in the Pomeroon River. Further reports stated that during their journey, the boat in which they were travelling capsized off the Suddie Coast as a result of heavy rainfall and rough waters.

A search team comprising members of the joint services and public spirited citizens has been formed with the hope of finding the men.

The search continues for the two other men who are suspected to have drowned.