Brazilian miner stabbed to death in Cuyuni

A Brazilian national was fatally stabbed during an argument at Ikawan, Cuyuni River on Sunday and police are yet to apprehend the killer.

Dead is Edel Alemba Passos, 51, who Stabroek News was told is a miner operating in the area where the incident occurred.

Police said in a press release yesterday that they are investigating the murder of Passos, which occurred at about 7pm on Sunday. Investigations have so far revealed that Passos and another man were involved in an argument, during which he was fatally stabbed.

The man’s remains were yesterday transported to the Lyken’s Funeral Home and a post-mortem examination is expected to be performed tomorrow. Passos is the second foreign national to be killed here for this year. In April, Colombian Jose Arturo Castello Balcazar was reportedly shot and killed by a soldier while travelling in a boat in the Wenamu River in the vicinity of Eteringbang. GDF Lance Corporal Kurt Belgrave, 23, Cemetery Road, Lodge, Georgetown has since been charged with the man’s death.

Reports are that Balcazar, 52, was shot dead while he and four other persons were travelling in the boat. Following the incident, three soldiers, including Belgrave, were taken into custody.

The soldiers, this newspaper had learnt, were patrolling the area when they saw Balcazar and the four others in the boat.

The soldiers reportedly indicated to the men that they should stop but Balcazar, who was manning the boat, continued to proceed along his course. It was shortly after this that Balcazar was shot.