Army assisting Police in search for missing US tourist

The Guyana Defence Force has joined the Guyana Police Force as the search continues for missing US tourist, Thomas Carsten Jr.

Carsten Jr. went missing on Tuesday, during a fishing expedition in the Rupununi river near Apoteri in Region Nine. The News Room was reliably informed that 11 persons in five boats participated in the expedition.

Carsten Jr. was in a boat with two other persons when it capsized.

Commander of Regional Police Division #9 Raphael Rose told the News Room that police received a report of the incident on Tuesday. The man reportedly went missing at around 10:30hrs.

Several officers were sent to the location early Wednesday to investigate the man’s disappearance, but Commander Rose said he has not heard from the team since. He explained that there is no cell service in that area.

“We have had no contact with them since, the area does not have connection so we have to reach them through satellite. What we did so far is send in an additional team (army) to assist with the search,” Commander Rose said.

Meanwhile, Guyana’s tourism authorities are also investigating the matter.

According to information provided to the News Room from a relative of Carsten Jr., he arrived in Guyana on November 17, 2022 and travelled to Apoteri via a small plane. He and a group of Americans travelled there for the fishing expedition.

With the recent death of a US-based Guyanese tourist at Orinduik falls and now the disappearance of Carsten Jr., the Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce Oneidge Walrond is advising tourists to use only approved and certified operators.

The first tourist was a US-based Guyanese, Gladstone Haynes, who disappeared while touring the Orinduik Falls in Region Eight. He was reportedly swept away by a strong current and his body was found a day later.