No leads yet in boat builder kidnapping

Police have no leads into the kidnapping of an Essequibo boat builder who was grabbed by armed men from his mother-in-law’s home last Thursday, but investigations continue.

Fabian Gonsalves, a father of two of Hampton Court, Essequibo Coast was abducted from his mother-in-law’s home at Jacklow, Upper Pomeroon River around 10 pm, police said.

Police told Stabroek News yesterday that they are in the process of interviewing the family and community members in an effort to develop information about the kidnapping.

Investigations had revealed that Gonsalves was in a house watching television along with his mother-in-law Carol Adams and another boat-builder, Chris Williams, when two men armed with guns entered the home through an open door.

“The men held them at gunpoint and tied up Adams and Williams, after which they handcuffed Fabian Gonsalves and took him away in a boat,” police said. Adams and Williams managed to untie themselves and raised an alarm.

Meanwhile, Gonsalves’ wife and children moved to the city for security reasons a relative had told this newspaper. The relative said the kidnapping came as a shock and he could not come up with a motive for why someone would want to kidnap Gonsalves.

Senior police officials had also told Stabroek News that Gonsalves was related to a father and son, who were murdered last year in an incident that Crime Chief Seelall Persaud had said was drug related.

In March 2009, the decomposing remains of Romeo and Clint De Agrella of Grant Strong Hope, Lower Pomeroon River, were found at Iron Punt, North West District, days after they failed to return home. Post-mortem examinations revealed that the men died from multiple gunshot wounds.

Police had said that the men and left for Venezuela but when they did not return as scheduled they were reported missing on March 22.

The bodies were subsequently found with gunshot wounds while the men’s boat bore bullet holes. The boat without the outboard engine, and which had been overturned was discovered in the Waini River by the occupants of a passing passenger vessel.

A dredge-owner was later charged with procuring their murders while two men were charged with the murders and another was sought. The charge against one of the murder accused, Lloyd Roberts, was discharged for want of prosecution.