Tragedy struck early this morning in the small riverain community of DeVeldt, Berbice River when a bauxite tug ran over a small launch killing at least one man.
Dead is Andre Thompson called ‘Steer’ formerly of Kimbia, Berbice River but who was living at No. 28 Village, Corentyne.
Captain of DeVeldt, Laxley Lindie told Stabroek News that the tragedy occurred just around 5am today. He said that boat, owned by Richard Lepps of DeVeldt was moored at the time and Thompson was on board when the tug ran over it.
Lindie said the man’s body was recovered shortly after residents launched a search. The village captain said they have detained the tug and are making attempts to contact the police.
In March of this year, Rhonda Da Silva, a 24-year-old pregnant woman drowned after the boat she was travelling in capsized in the Berbice River, in the vicinity of the Kwakwani crushing plant, after a passing tug created waves. The boat carrying Da Silva, her husband and daughter capsized near the bauxite tug and barge. The woman’s husband and daughter were rescued by workers of the Bauxite Company of Guyana Inc, however, she could not have been rescued in time and drowned.
