Captain in fatal Cuyuni boat crash not certified – MARAD

The boat captain involved in the fatal accident two Saturdays ago near the Matouk Falls en route to Bartica was not certified.

This was disclosed on Tuesday by Stephen Thomas, Director of Maritime Safety in a telephone interview with Stabroek News. “On the surface he was unlicensed and inexperienced and this could have played a big factor in the accident”, he said.

Several relatives of the deceased men had raised questions about whether the boat captain Junior Lyte, 19, was qualified and had a licence to operate the vessel. Junior Bandhu, 35, of Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo; William Patoir of New Amsterdam, Berbice; Clive Welcome, 19, of First Avenue, Bartica and Seon Robertson, 39, of Angoy’s Avenue, New Amsterdam, lost their lives in the fatal accident.

Thomas stated that the accident is currently being investigated and then the appropriate charges will be instituted. “He will be charged regardless”, he said. He added that they (MARAD) are working assiduously with the police to take the necessary action. “The police are very effective…we are still trying to determine the full cause of the accident.”

Following the recent boat accidents Thomas said that potential owners have been flocking to their offices to initiate the process of getting licences. “A lot of boat owners are coming to the offices to get registered and get their licences.”

When asked about whether the area the vessel was headed to was restricted, Thomas stated the area is restricted in the context that it is treacherous. “There is a general area which is very treacherous and the law requires passengers to come out so that they won’t be in the treacherous area.”  He added that the vessel did not reach the area as yet, but the captain did not have any intentions of offloading the passengers.

He urged persons to ensure that they wear their life jackets when travelling on the waterways.

These warnings seem to fall on deaf ears as yet another boat accident occurred on Wednesday in the vicinity of Tiger Creek on the left bank of the Essequibo River.  Several persons, many without life jackets, were injured when the boat captain opted to steer his jet boat into a clump of bushes to avert tragedy.  For the year 14 persons have lost their lives in boat accidents in Essequibo.