The bodies of two brothers who went missing on Sunday afternoon were fished out of the Demerara River at Linden yesterday just before midday.
Dead are 13-year-old Akeemo Fredericks of the Wisburg Annex School and 16-year-old Andre Fredericks of the Wisburg Secondary School.
The two brothers left their 187 Third Street, Silvertown home on Sunday afternoon, despite a strict warning from their mother Lorraine McLennan. They had been left at home with their two older sisters Carencia Fraser, 19, and Casandra McLennan, 17, along with two younger brothers Akeel, 11, and Anphany 5 years old.
“Why they disobeyed me, why they disobey,” their distraught mother cried yesterday. The 39-year-old woman said she left for church on Sunday morning and returned home shortly after 2 pm. “When I get home I didn’t see them and I asked Carencia for them and she said that she ain’t know way dey deh,” recounted McLennan. She added that she immediately when in search of them around the neighbourhood, but did not find them.
She then went to several relatives in Wisroc and other areas in search of the two but they were not there.
Considering that the boys were football lovers she went to the Mackenzie Sports Club Ground where a football match was on where she once again searched for them. “After I didn’t find them I started getting really nervous because my children don’t ever stay away from home. I come over back the river and something tell me check along the riverside,” related McLennan. Her searches of the riverside from the bridge along Burnham Drive yielded nothing.
“When we reach to the head of me street I was about to turn in de street but something tell me fuh go down a little further. I didn’t even know they had a landing at the riverside opposite the hotel [River View International Hotel]. Then I see dey clothes on de landing soak and I tell Carencia deh dead,” she lamented.
McLennan said she ran down the street screaming and as neighbours came out she told them of her suspicion. A group of residents quickly gathered and a search for the boys was mounted. McLennan said that she summoned the police at the Wismar station but was told that the officer could not have left her post because she was the lone rank at the station at the time.
Despite the absence of proper lighting and the police presence residents search the edge of the river until approximately 11.15 pm to no avail. A larger team went out about 5.30 am yesterday.
Just about 9 am the body of Akeemo was spotted almost in the middle of the river a short distance from where their clothing was found. A man swam out a brought the body in. Andre’s lifeless body surfaced around noon in the vicinity of Dutchie’s boat landing.
Their mother said she was at home when she received a call indicating that one of the bodies had surfaced. “I can’t tell you how I felt at the time but I run out and see was Akeemo. Why my boys disobey me? Why my boys disobey me? Ah always tell them even if water cut off don’t go to de river fuh no water because river does kill. Why? Why they ain’t listen to me? Next month Akeemo woulda turn 14 years… and now he gone,” cried the bereaved mother.
Andre celebrated his 16th birthday on October 6.
McLennan said that the cause of her children’s deaths was even harder to bear because their father Andre Fredericks died by drowning at Kurupung on October 4, 2006 and was buried on October 13 the same year.
“I know wah happen to dey father mek I use to warn them. Before ah leff ah tell them don’t come out of de street and they ain’t listen to me. Why my boys disobey me? Tell me Jehovah why?” she wailed.
McLennan celebrated her birthday on October 4, the same day of the death of the children’s father.
Many condemned the late arrival of police ranks and also expressed the view that there is need to have a police boat returned to the area. They said that in the past, the Wismar police station was equipped with a boat.
“Is not only for this reason we need that boat back on the river,” one resident said. “But you don’t know how much boats does pass through this river with drugs and other illegal activities. They police got a lot of improvement to do in this town now that this Takutu bridge working.”
They also spoke negatively of the new Linden Hospital Complex which is not equipped with a mortuary; the existing one at the Upper Demerara Hospital is out of operation at the moment.
BOSAI’s workers came in for much praise for assisting in the search. Residents said that a crew was working a dredge in the river and took some time off to assist.
