-hands were chopped off
Upset relatives say that Marvin Andries, who was killed at Tamakay Landing, Cuyuni/Mazaruni two Thursdays ago, was no thief, while rejecting reports that he met his demise while trying to steal raw gold.
Police Commissioner Henry Greene had said that Andries, 30, of Lot 192 North Sophia, had tried to steal raw gold from a sluice box in a mining camp and was beaten by two or three workers. However, Andries’ mother, brother and uncle visited Stabroek News yesterday, saying they wanted to “clear” his name as he was not a thief. “Ah want meh son name clear cause he is no thief. He was never involved in any crimes and de police could check their records,” an upset Jennifer Duncan said.
According to her, she had visited the police headquarters searching for some answers but got no satisfactory response. She said that a female rank she spoke with said that she did not know where the media got its information from and in many instances they (the media houses) would pay for the information that is published.
However, on September 3, police said that a team had been dispatched to Tamakay Landing, to investigate a report of murder allegedly committed on a man, who had not been identified at the time. Police said the man was allegedly caught raiding the “sluice box” and was reportedly beaten. Subsequently, police gave the dead man’s name as Mervin Andrews, 35 of Karau Village, Essequibo.
Relatives said that the name, age and address that were published in this newspaper were incorrect. They also reported that Andries, who was working at the location since early February, had repeatedly complained about not been paid by his employers and apparently after a `wash down’ the day before the incident, he had demanded the money that was owed to him.
One relative said that the dredge where Andries worked is owned by a Guyanese man (who was identified by a ‘call name’) and a Brazilian. The Guyanese, it was explained, was the general manger of the operation.
Delon Duncan, the dead man’s brother, said that he last spoke with him in the Tamakay backdam in mid-July. Andries expressed the desire to return home for August 1, he said, but had no money. “He tell me how de people ain’t want fuh pay he because they seh that they just open dem operation,” Delon explained. He said that following the incident, he was told that his brother was murdered and at least three of the perpetrators were identified by their aliases.
Delon said, “He know de kind of people he bin wukin’ with so he wouldn’t a try doing that (stealing gold), especially by he self,” he said.
Struggling to remain composed, Jennifer Duncan said she had learnt that her son’s hands were chopped off, he was chopped in the head and he was badly beaten. “These allegations are totally wrong. All the years I know he, he never involve he self in such a thing,” she said, adding that some time ago Andries told her that he was verbally assaulted and was almost struck with a piece of iron because he asked for his outstanding wages. “Dem just tekin’ people and slaving dem…With he dying breath he tell someone to tell de man to pay he mother de money that he was owed,” she said.
The woman said that she did not even get the chance to see her son one final time as he was buried in the area.
Following the incident, efforts were being made to get the injured man out of the area for medical attention but he died en route to Tamakay Landing, which is about nine miles from the camp. The camp is located in the backdam and persons used All Terrain Vehicles to move around.
Relatives said that persons pooled their money and managed to get $290, 000 to transport the body by aircraft to the city. Jennifer Duncan said that she was told that Andries’ remains were placed in a body bag and then into a wooden box that had been built for him. She said that passengers on the plane, however, refused to have the body transported because of the smell. As a result, it was temporarily buried near the airstrip which is a five-minute boat ride from the Landing.
Duncan said that one of the investigating ranks has since told her that a pathologist will be flown into the area to perform the post mortem. She could not say if this has been done.
The woman said that the police just did not try hard enough to get her son’s body out of the remote area. According to her, a second option was by boat.
Meanwhile, the man’s uncle, Martin Goddette, questioned why the entire camp was not held and questioned. “I believe that this is sloppy work. They (the police) did not even explain or produce evidence that suggest that he was stealing this gold,” Goddette said.
Relatives expressed hope that police will investigate the matter thoroughly and catch the perpetrators. They say that regardless of the circumstances, Andries was murdered and there should be justice.
