Boat mishap at Imbaimadai: Search for missing surveyors continues

Emergency responders and family members are continuing to search for Germain La Rose, 34, of Canvas City, Wismar, Linden, and Terrence Thomas, 29, of Meadow Brook Gardens, Georgetown, who went missing following a boat mishap at Imbaimadai Landing on Thursday.
When contacted on Saturday, Region Seven Commander Dion Moore confirmed that the bodies were yet to be recovered but the search was continuing.
Thomas and La Rose went missing after the boat in which they were travelling started to take in water and sank in the Upper Mazaruni River in the vicinity of Imbaimadai Landing.

Germain La Rose and Terrence Thomas

Romell Ramlakhan, a Mines Officer in charge attached to the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission stationed at Imbaimadai Landing stated that he returned from a field trip at Kamarang Landing along with two other colleagues.
According to Ramlakhan, he was on his way to the GGMC station when Thomas and La Rose approached him on the Imbaimadai airstrip and related that they had arrived in Imbaimadai Landing to do work but did not elaborate.
Information further revealed that La Rose requested to be accommodated at the GGMC living quarters to which Ramlakhan agreed, since he was a former employee.
However, the following day at about 03:00h, Ramlakhan noted that he observed La Rose and Thomas preparing for their journey to which he insisted that they wait until daylight. However, Thomas declined while noting that the journey was a lengthy one.
Ramlakhan said he dropped the duo on the hill by the riverside on an All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) and returned to the GGMC station.
The boat captain, Romain Reece, told investigators that he along with La Rose, Thomas, and another man boarded a metal boat, property of Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), and headed for Kako Village, Upper Mazaruni, along with approximately 40 gallons of fuel and 10 signs to be erected at the mining claim they were going to survey.
Some two minutes into their journey while he was trying to plane off the boat, the captain said the boat began to take in water. As a result, Thomas and La Rose panicked and jumped overboard, causing the boat to take in water and sink.
The occupants then attempted to swim to safety by holding on to fuel tanks but upon reaching the river bank, Reece discovered Thomas and La Rose were missing and the other colleague a few feet away.
Subsequent to that, an alarm was raised and Police were notified. A search party was then formed and is currently ongoing.
It was also revealed that none of the occupants of the boat were wearing life jackets at the time of the incident. It was also reported that the Mines Officer did not have any knowledge or authorise anyone to use the GGMC boat and engine.
The boat captain is currently in custody assisting with investigations. Several fuel tanks which were in the boat were recovered about three miles from where the accident took place.
Investigations are ongoing.