Handyman found dead in drain, drowning suspected

A Stanleytown, West Bank Demerara handyman was found dead in a drain yesterday and it is suspected that he died of drowning.

The body of Mohamed Shadekee, 57, called ‘Goo-Goo’ of Stanleytown was discovered at around 7.50am yesterday at a drain in North Section, Canal Number Two by a man who was taking his daughter to school.

Shadekee normally did odd jobs and sometimes worked with a farmer in the area. When he was found, the upper part of his body was submerged

Mohamed Shadekee

in the water while his lower body was on the land.

A few crumpled $100 bills were left on a bench along with a half-empty packet of cigarettes and a lighter, all resting on a piece of paper. His boots and cap were nearby as was an umbrella said to be his.

Police removed the body to the morgue and have commenced investigations. A senior police officer said that they are not treating the death as suspicious.

This newspaper was told that it appeared that Shadekee died by drowning. It is suspected that he was drunk and was unable to make it home and somehow fell into the drain, Stabroek News was told. Shadekee was well known in the area. “He [was] the handyman fuh everybody,” one resident said. He had lived alone in a dilapidated building.

Mohamed Shadekee’s belongings left on a bench at North Section, Canal Number Two close to where his body was found. In the background is an umbrella said to be his.

When Stabroek News visited his relatives yesterday, they were not yet aware of his death.

Later they said that the farmer with whom Shadekee worked, said he had left at 3 pm on Sunday. His whereabouts after were unknown. “We ain’t get no clue what happen,” a relative said.

She said that the police have told them little and said that they will do further investigations after the autopsy tomorrow.