Labourer found dead in Port Mourant backlands after suspected drowning

A Williamsburgh Village, Corentyne labourer was found dead in a trench in the Port Mourant backdam on Thursday.

Dead is Jhabal Lutchana, also known as ‘Japanese,’ 58, of Lot 18 Williamsburgh Village, who had left home on Thursday morning to carry out his daily tasks in the backlands.

While it is still unclear how exactly Lutchana met his demise, relatives and villagers suspect that he may have drowned. His relatives told Stabroek News that he could not swim. They also noted that he suffered from high blood pressure.

Jhabal Lutchana

A post-mortem examination is expected to be done on Monday to determine the cause of his death.

According to Somwattie Lutchana, also of Williamsburgh Village, Corentyne, her brother worked with Kris Jagdeo, at Number 1 Village, Corentyne, as a labourer. She stated that his fellow workers told her that on Thursday morning they left to go into the backlands to check on the cattle, as they usually would, and they left Lutchana at one location and went further into the backlands. However, they said that upon returning, they discovered the father of two lying lifeless in the corner of a small trench at the location where they left him.

“He does drink every day but them say he didn’t drink that morning before he go in,” the woman said, while noting that her brother was a quiet man, who did not make trouble with anyone.

Lutchana was a father of two.