Decomposing body found floating in Canje River

Police in Berbice are trying to ascertain the identity of a man said to be in his 50s, whose decomposing body was discovered floating in the Canje River around 9 am yesterday.

The body was clad in a pair of multi-coloured shorts and brown t-shirt that bore the slogan ‘Somebody in Guyana Loves me’. The mouth and left eye appeared to be “eaten by fish,” according to police sources.

The police said too that “no marks of violence were found on the body.” They are urging persons who may know of anyone missing to come forward with information. A post-mortem examination is expected to be performed today.

The discovery was made about one and a half miles from the Canje Bridge by Hubert Thompson, 31, of Angoy’s Avenue, New Amsterdam; his stepson, Mark Anthony Kellowan and a friend, David Williams.

Thompson told reporters that they were in the process of searching for his boat which went missing about one week ago.

They left from an area behind Tucber Park, NA, in a boat he borrowed from a friend and were heading up river when they noticed what appeared to be a body caught among some bushes and decided to investigate. The bloated body was discovered face down.

Thompson said they immediately left the area and made a report to the Central Police Station in New Amsterdam. Boarding the boat that Thompson was using, the officers headed to the scene.

They then used a cutlass to clear the bushes in which the body was caught and tied it to the side of the boat. The officers towed it to an area under the Canje Bridge where they used wire rope to lift it out.

Curious residents gathered to get a glimpse of the body before undertakers from the Arokium Funeral Parlour removed it.