Two land surveyors, identified as Terrence Thomas, 29, of Meadow Brook Gardens, Georgetown and Germaine La Rose, 34, of Canvas City, Wismar, Linden are missing after the boat they were sank in the Upper Mazaruni River within the vicinity of Imbaimadai Landing.
Police Headquarters reported that the incident occurred in the wee hours of Thursday.
According to reports, Romell Ramlakhan, a 32-year-old officer of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) stationed at Imbaimadai Landing was approached by the two men when they arrived on Wednesday evening and related that they were there for work.
Police said La Rose requested to be accommodated at the GGMC quarters to which Ramlakhan agreed.
At about 03:00hrs on Thursday, Ramlakhan said he observed La Rose and Thomas preparing for their journey but insisted that they wait for daylight.
However, Thomas declined, noting the lengthy journey. Ramlakhan then dropped them on the hill by the riverside on an ATV vehicle and returned to the GGMC station.
The men then boarded a metal boat owned by GGMC along with 39-year-old Sherwin Wilson, a labourer of Mocha Village, East Bank Demerara and the unlicensed captain 46-year-old Romain Reece of Imbaimadai. They were headed for Kako Village in the Upper Mazaruni Region to survey some mining lands.
But two minutes into their journey the boat began to take in water and as a result, Thomas and La Rose panicked and jumped overboard, the police reported.
The other occupants managed to swim to safety by holding on to fuel tanks and later discovered that Thomas and LaRose were missing.
Subsequent to that, an alarm was raised and police were notified. A search party was then formed and is currently ongoing.
It was also revealed that none of the occupants of the boat were wearing life jackets at the time of the incident. And Ramlakhan said he did not have any knowledge nor did he authorise anyone to use the GGMC boat and engine.
The boat captain is in custody assisting with investigations.
Several fuel tanks which were in the boat were recovered about 3 miles from the scene.
Investigations are ongoing.
