Search still on for missing land surveyors after boat mishap
The search for two land surveyors continued yesterday after they went missing in a boat mishap at Imbaimadai Landing on Thursday.
Germain La Rose, 34, of Canvas City, Wismar, Linden and Terrence Thomas, 29, of Meadow Brook Gardens, Georgetown, are feared drowned.
Region Seven Commander Dion Moore yesterday said that the bodies were yet to be recovered and the search was continuing.
According to a police report, the mishap occurred at approximately 04:00 hrs on Thursday at Imbaimadai Landing, Upper Mazaruni River and an unlicensed boat captain was taken into custody. Police enquiries revealed that on Wednesday, Romell Ramlakhan, 32, a Mines Officer in charge of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) station at Imbaimadai Landing returned from a field trip at Kamarang Landing. He was accompanied by Sherwin Wilson, 39, labourer of Nelson Street Mocha, East Bank Demerara and Reece, a 46-year-old unlicensed boat captain of Imbaimadai Landing.
Ramlakhan told the police that he was on his way to his GGMC station when Thomas and LaRose approached him on the Imbaimadai airstrip and related that they had arrived on the landing on Wednesday to work. LaRose requested accommodation at the GGMC quarters and Ramlakhan agreed since he was an ex-employee. On Thursday morning at about 03:00 hours Ramlakhan observed La Rose and Thomas preparing for their journey. He then suggested that they wait until daylight but Thomas insisted that they leave at 04:00 because of the length of the journey. Ramlakhan then transported them to the hill by the river side using an all-terrain vehicle and returned to the GGMC station. He stressed that he did not have any knowledge or authorise anyone to use the GGMC boat and engine.
According to Reece, the unlicensed boat captain, La Rose, Williams and Wilson boarded a metal boat, property of the GGMC and headed to Kako Village, Upper Mazaruni, Region Seven. The boat was loaded with 40 gallons of fuel and contained ten signs to be erected at a mining claim that was scheduled to be surveyed. None of the occupants of the boat was wearing a life jacket at the time.
About two minutes into their journey while the captain was trying to “plane off” the boat, the boat began to take in water. According to the police La Rose and Thomas panicked and jumped overboard before the boat sank.
Reece and Wilson swam to safety by holding on to the fuel tanks. Upon reaching the riverbank, Reece discovered LaRose and Thomas missing. An alarm was raised and the police were notified.
Reece is currently in custody assisting with investigations. Several fuel tanks from the boat were recovered about 3 miles from the scene.