Guyanese businessman dies in BVI during Irma pounding

Derek Ragnauth
Derek Ragnauth

A Guyanese businessman is among five persons who perished in the British Virgin Islands (BVI) as a result of the category 5 hurricane, Irma.

Dead is Derek Ragnauth, 55, a businessman who had been residing in the BVI for the past nine years but previously lived in Good Hope, Mahaica and worked as a craftsman.

The main BVI island Tortola was severely hit by the hurricane which rampaged through the Caribbean last week.

According to a family member of Ragnauth, the father of two, during the storm was in the company of his nephew and the nephew’s girlfriend when they received a phone call from a family member encouraging them to go to her house.

However, while the nephew and his girlfriend left, Ragnauth remained.

It was sometime later that the roof of Ragnauth’s shop caved in killing him.

The family member noted that since last Wednesday, they have been unable to make contact with their remaining family members in the area and would desperately like to bring Ragnauth’s body to Guyana for burial.