Latest update April 20th, 2024 12:59 AM
Sep 09, 2009 News
Officials at the Police Forensic Laboratory are currently carrying out tests of paint samples removed from a GDF Coast Guard vessel and another boat with the aim of establishing whether or not they are linked to the August 11 mishap in the Essequibo River a month ago.
Investigators will be able to determine if there is any connection between the army vessel and the damaged boat in which the bodies of Henry Gibson and Jainarine Dinanauth were found, and from which 10-year-old Ricky Jainarine went missing.
This follows revelations that a sample of blue paint similar to the one on the damaged boat was lifted from the Army Coast Guard vessel.
There were speculations that the army boat may have been involved in the alleged mishap after three Coast Guards were apprehended in a multi-million dollar Essequibo River heist in which Dweive Kant Ramdass was abducted, robbed and murdered.
This newspaper had examined the damaged boat and residues of green paint were found at the point of collision.
A subsequent check of the army coast guard vessel which was moored at the Parika Stelling revealed that it had been freshly repainted and there were what appeared to be scratch marks along the side, pointing to a recent accident. However, the paint job was hurriedly done since the original colour differed from the new paint.
But, Chief of Staff, Commodore Gary Best in an interview shortly after the river heist incident had told this newspaper that maintenance of army vessels was a routine procedure.
He had hinted that this newspaper might have been premature in its assertion of a possible link between the Coast Guard boat and the damaged vessel.
Some ‘regulars’ at the Parika Ferry Stelling had indicated that following the Hog Island incident, the GDF Coast Guard vessel was not seen for three days.
A few days later, on August 26, Police Commissioner Henry Greene insisted that investigators had not yet found any evidence to link a Guyana Defence Force Coast Guard vessel to the boat mishap near Hog Island.
This was despite relatives of the victims and others being convinced otherwise.
“I’m not privy to any information as yet that the Coast Guard has been involved,” Greene had told reporters.
He had however assured that detectives would be devoting more time to the investigation.
“We were tied up with the other aspects of the matter. Now that these men have been charged we’ll devote some more time now towards going more in depth into what may have occurred,” the Commissioner had said.
When contacted yesterday, Crime Chief Seelall Persaud confirmed that indeed the police have been seriously addressing the matter. “There are reasons to investigate,” the Crime Chief told this newspaper.
He told this newspaper that the local police laboratory will be doing all the testing using equipment that was acquired last year.
However, he could not give a time frame for the completion of the tests.
The three now dishonourably dismissed Coast Guard ranks, who were reportedly manning the army vessel at the time of the mishap, have denied any involvement, but investigators are hoping to obtain enough scientific evidence that could put all speculation to an end.
Where is the BETTER MANAGEMENT/RENEGOTIATION OF THE OIL CONTRACTS you promised Jagdeo?
Apr 20, 2024
– Elton Dharry and Dexter Marques to headline tonight’s card Kaieteur Sports – The Everest Cricket Club pavilion crackled with tension yesterday as the Guyana Boxing Board hosted its...Kaieteur News – Once a habit has been drilled into you, it returns almost automatically when you return to the setting... more
By Sir Ronald Sanders Waterfalls Magazine – On April 10, the Permanent Council of the Organization of American States... more
Freedom of speech is our core value at Kaieteur News. If the letter/e-mail you sent was not published, and you believe that its contents were not libellous, let us know, please contact us by phone or email.
Feel free to send us your comments and/or criticisms.
Contact: 624-6456; 225-8452; 225-8458; 225-8463; 225-8465; 225-8473 or 225-8491.
Or by Email: [email protected] / [email protected]