Essequibo boat captain found dead, family suspects foul play

The body of a 27-year-old boat captain was fished out of a river at Port Kaituma, Region One more than a month ago.

The discovery was made following a drinking spree with a group of friends.

Dead is Kumar Narine also known as ‘Kevin, of Jibb Housing Scheme, Essequibo Coast.

Reports are that the incident occurred on the evening of November 16.

Narine worked as a captain of a fishing boat and would ply his trade in the Port Kaituma area.

The News Room understands that on the night in question, Narine and three men were imbibing. On their way home, it is alleged that Narine fell overboard from the boat in which they were traveling.

Efforts were reportedly made to retrieve his body but they were futile.

The following morning, Narine’s body was found floating.

Contacted on Monday, Police Commander of Region One, Himnauth Sawh said investigators were initially treating the matter as a drowning.

However, a post-mortem examination revealed that Narine died as a result of drowning, compounded with blunt trauma to the head and compression injuries to his neck.

As such, Sawh said the probe remains open.

During the investigation, Sawh said that the three men who were present with Narine in the boat were arrested for questioning.

But they were released after 72 hours since there was no substantial evidence linking them to the crime.

Due to the state of decomposition of the body, Sawh said Narine was buried since the pathologist was not immediately available to conduct the post-mortem.

Narine’s remains were later exhumation for post-mortem.

In an interview with the News Room on Monday, Narine’s mother Tajwattie Sookraj said the family suspects foul play in her son’s death.

The mother is therefore demanding justice.

“I just want justice. Me ain’t satisfied with how me son dead…is not now he working…is over 10 years now he working at sea and nothing like this never happen to he,” Sookraj said.

The grieving woman said she last saw her son in January. She said she received a call from a relative on November 17, informing her of the discovery.

“When they find the body, the body was good and then we get a next call…that they going and shallow grave this body and then they will take it out Monday for post-mortem,” she said.

She added, “We want justice and we want something to get done about this story because me son ain’t deserve this.”

Narine was expecting to return home for the Christmas holiday. He was expecting his first child.