The relatives of Private Julian Marks, who died under unclear circumstances late last month, are still seeking closure as inconsistent information about his death has left them with many unanswered questions.
Marks and another soldier, Private Clyde Bailey, both of Jaguar 1, Infantry Battalion and based at Eteringbang, were missing during a roll call on Tuesday November 17. A search was subsequently launched and Bailey was found the next morning about two miles from the location. Marks’ badly decomposed body was found some seven days after, floating in the Cuyuni River, approximately one mile before the Ekereku River mouth and 11 miles from Eteringbang. A post-mortem examination on the remains had revealed that he died from asphyxiation due to drowning and also sustained blunt trauma to the left side of his head.
Army sources had said that the soldier related that he and Marks had gone to a farm in the area and on their way back to the location they got disoriented when they reached a fork in the trail. The two then went in different directions. Bailey told his superiors that was the last time he saw Marks.
Marks’ father, Julian Marks Snr, had told this newspaper that Bailey told him a different story, recounting that the two had gone to make a phone call. “So the information is inconsistent and we have a lot of unanswered questions. How can we put closure in these circumstances?” he queried.
The army had handed over Bailey to the police to assist with further investigations. However, Police Commissioner Henry Greene confirmed to Stabroek News last week that he was released from custody. He said too that the matter was still being investigated.
Marks said he made contact with the police yesterday and was advised once more that the police have received permission to go into Eteringbang to conduct investigations. He said he was told the same thing two weeks ago, leading him to question whether the matter is indeed being taken seriously. “It seem as though his life wasn’t important. It’s just amazing what is going on in this country. I have not received any update from anyone and I buried by son since the 27th,” he said.
He pointed to the Board of Inquiry (BOI) which the army said it launched after his son’s demise and he queried whether it has made any revelation.
This newspaper contacted Chief of Staff Gary Best who confirmed that an inquiry was conducted but said he was unable to comment on its findings since he was away from work over the last week.
“They can’t tell me they had a proper system if at such a critical border location two soldiers could just pick up themselves and leave. This speaks volumes for supervision there,” Marks emphasised.
