Guyana: Missing fisherman's mother hopes for his safe return

The mother of a missing West Berbice fisherman is sad and hopes for her son to return home safely. Her son Suraj Dhaneshwar, 28, of Lot 49, railway line Rosnignol, West Bank Berbice went missing reportedly after his wooden boat overturned in the sea.

Speaking with the local news in an interview Chandrawattie Persaud said that her son left home on Tuesday morning with a boat captain to fish in the sea, with expectations of returning on Wednesday. However, he never returned home.

[caption id="attachment_41206" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Victim's mother Chandrawattie Persaud (Photo Courtesy: Guyana Daily News)[/caption]

Persaud said Wednesday morning that a representative from the Rosignol Fishermen's Coop visited her and told her that the boat her son was inside overturned. As per reports, the captain of the ship managed to save himself and said he tied Suraj with a flowter on his waist and he hold on, on the boat.

"I feel terrible, i can not take it any more because it's very hard for me. All my intention is that he Suraj alive and comes back. I don't have any bad intention. I hope that he is around and he is going to be here safe," the missing man's mother stated.

Suraj's family said they did not get to speak with the captain since the incident and are being told conflicting stories which left them worried.

Meanwhile, police headquarters revealed in a statement that the boat captain, Oneil Deputron, told investigators that on March 15, 2022, about 05:00 hours, he and the missing man left 3-Door Koker at Rosignol, W.B.B headed for sea in a 36-foot wooden boat equipped with a 40 hp engine.

"About 8am on March 16, 2022, the captain, Oneil Deputron went to the Blairmont Police Station where he reported that about 9pm on March 15, 2022, while returning from sea - in the vicinity of Bath Settlement W.C.B, about 4 miles offshore - a large wave hit the boat which capsized, resulting in both himself and the now missing man falling into the water," the statement added.

The boat captain stated that about 10 to 15 seconds after he managed to resurface and hold onto the boat, however he did not Suraj.

The man went on to say that the boat drifted in the sea with him until he was rescued by another fishing boat heading in his direction.

Subsequently, the captain was taken ashore and later reported the matter to the police. On Wednesday, a party of policemen visited the scene and launched a search for Suraj Daneshwar.

Oneil Deputron is presently receiving treatment at the Fort Wellington Public Hospital as investigations continue.