Guyana speedboat death toll rises to six; government says illegal crossings must stop
|
| Published on Wednesday, October 29, 2008 |
Email To Friend Print Version |
GEORGETOWN, Guyana: The body of the last of seven people from the ill-fated speedboat mishap in the Corentyne River between Guyana and Suriname last Friday washed up on Monday and the Guyana government has called on its residents not to use the “unregulated” crossings between the two countries.
The body of Henry Gonsalves, one of six people who drowned when a speedboat, driven by Roy Ramdass, capsized after becoming en tangled in fishing net at the river’s mouth near the border with Suriname, was recovered on Monday.
Those dead are Ramdass, Sheila Gonsalves, Indranie Motieram, Eva Hope, Drupatie Bahagiloo and Henry Gonsalves, all Guyanese returning from Suriname.
Two of the passengers survived -- a New York-based nurse Sherry Haynes who, after spending 36 hours in the water, managed to swim ashore on Sunday, while Leslie Austin was rescued on Saturday.
In light of this incident, a political minority, the Alliance For Change (AFC), has called on the government to ensure proper search and rescue systems are set up, which the party’s leader Raphael Trotman feels if it was in place could have saved some of the lives.
But responding to this, Transport Minister Robeson Benn said that there was no communication with the authorities at the time of the mishap; noting, however, an extensive search in the river had been conducted to retrieve the missing passengers and to rescue those who managed to stay afloat.
The minister warned that the crossing is illegal and unregulated but gave no firm commitment as to whether the administration would move to regulate it soon, and said his ministry has since launched an investigation into the matter, with an interim report to be provided shortly.
When asked by the media why the Jagdeo administration has never taken steps to regulate the crossing, despite previous cases of mishaps that claimed lives, he said he could not speak as to why this has not happened.
“The deaths of the people are regrettable and we are encouraging people to use the Canawaima Ferry at Moleson Creek,” the Transport Minister said.
“We have to move ahead with regulating the operations. We want to be certain that our people are safe during their travel,” Benn added.
He said the Maritime Administration is working to enforce regulations on the waterways regarding passengers wearing safety gear such as life jackets. | | | | Reads : 1044 | | | |
|
|
