Search continues for missing land surveyor
Even as the search continues for Germaine La Rose, the land surveyor that went missing in a boat mishap at Imbamadai Landing last Thursday, some family members believed he may have been a victim of foul play.
La Rose, 34, of Canvas City, Wismar, Linden, and his colleague Terrence Thomas went missing after the boat mishap. Thomas’ body was recovered earlier this week and a post mortem examination was carried out.
According to a Facebook post by Geoffrey, La Rose’s brother, Germaine was granted permission to use the ill-fated Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) boat on many occasions. “It is understood that this is not the first time my brother used a boat of GGMC to conduct work in the same area, and is usually given the permission of a Mines Officer to use the boat which is captained by the same person. The Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), to which the boat belongs, has not shown interest in locating their boat nor engine.”
He said the La Rose family believes that he was murdered since it is alleged that he drowned but his body is still to be recovered.
“Due to the inconsistency of the report provided and the fact that my brother who is believed to be drowned, is not yet discovered, we believe that there is a likelihood that both men might have been murdered,” Geoffrey opined,
Stabroek News previously contacted GGMC Commissioner Newell Dennison, who said he would not be able to give any information about the mishap and at this time is unable to say if the boat was the property of GGMC.
According to the police report, Romell Ramlakhan, 32, a Mines Officer in charge of the GGMC station at Imbamadai 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 Imbamadai Landing. La Rose requested accommodation at GGMC quarters and Ramlakhan agreed since he was an ex-employee. The following morning Ramlakhan observed La Rose and Thomas packing for their journey and suggested that they remain until daylight. Thomas insisted that they leave at 4 am because of the length of the journey. Ramlakhan transported the two men to the hill by the riverside using an all-terrain vehicle and returned to the GGMC station. He stressed that he did not have any knowledge nor did he authorize anyone to use the GGMC’s boat and engine.
Reece, the unlicensed boat captain, at about 4 am along with 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.
Two minutes into the journey the boat began to take in water, Thomas and La Rose panicked and jumped overboard. The boat subsequently sank and Reece and Wilson swam to safety on fuel tanks. Upon arriving at the riverbank it was discovered that Thomas and La Rose were missing. An alarm was raised and police were notified.