The bodies of a Brazilian and Guyanese were recovered late last night by the coast guards two days after the boat they were travelling in was involved in a head-on collision in the Essequibo River.
The men have been identified as Jose Joaquin, a Brazilian and Osafo Roberts, an electrician of Philadelphia, East Bank Essequibo. On the day of the accident, a 54-year-old businesswoman, Sherry Khan lost her life after the propeller of the second boat, which is registered in Venezuela, cut her.
Five people survived the accident. They were treated at the Leonora Cottage Hospital and released. The captains of both vessels were taken into police custody.
According to information received, the passenger boat with eight persons departed the Parika, East Bank Essequibo (EBE)’s stelling for Buck Hall, in the Essequibo River when it collided with a boat that was travelling in the opposite direction.
The two persons in the Venezuelan boat did not receive any injuries and assisted in taking the wounded passengers to the hospital.
Poor lighting was said to be the cause for the collision. Maritime officials confirmed that the captains for both vessels breached several safety requirements and risked losing their licence to operate.
The investigation is still ongoing and the survivors are being questioned.
