– family cries foul play; alleges fisherman was kidnapped, taken to sea
The body of a Corentyne, Berbice fisherman was brought to shore on Friday by his colleagues who claimed that he drowned after jumping overboard into the Atlantic Ocean.
The dead man has been identified as Radish Narine, also called “Bunga”, 43, of Miss Phoebe, Port Mourant, Corentyne.
Based on information received, Narine was collected on Tuesday last from Alness Village where a brother lives. The now dead man’s brother, Jaidary Narine, related that members of the fishing crew came in search of his brother, but they were
Dead: Radish Narine, also called “Bunga”
advised that he was no longer interested in going out to sea.
He explained that for several months “Bunga” had resorted to catching hassa with nets inland. Nevertheless, the man was collected and taken to sea.
“Dem hold am by he shirt and walk the man and carry am go Adventure,” he said.
According to the distressed brother, he received a telephone call informing him that “Bunga” had suffered a seizure and jumped overboard. Two of his other siblings received a similar telephone call, but they were told different stories of what transpired.
“If a man catch fits and jump overboard in that water, you can’t find that man,” the brother stated.
One report stated that the now dead man jumped overboard and swam under the boat to the other side, but when the crew members attempted to pull him up, he reversed. Shortly after, he reportedly disappeared in the murky water.
Information reaching the dead man’s relatives revealed that one of the crew members reportedly tied a rope to himself and jumped into the water in search of the man and later came up with his lifeless body.
Villagers who have ventured out to sea told Guyana Times that it was impossible to swim under a boat out at sea because of the strong current.
The man’s brother who spoke with this publication is also a fisherman, and he related that when at sea if any crew member behaved strangely, he would be restrained and tied at a safe section of the boat.
He recalled being told that when “Bunga” jumped overboard, he was rescued shortly after, but he was contending that this was not the case and someone was not telling the truth.
“The man was already dead,” he said.
“Bunga” had worked for several years at sea and was also the captain for a fishing vessel in Suriname. According to the brother, in March of this year, he made his last trip and despite several offers, he refused to go back to the sea.
The two men who brought the body to shore were asked to report to the Whim
Relatives of the dead man at the foreshore on Friday
Police Station, but up to late Sunday evening, the men did not show up. Meanwhile, one of the dead man’s nephews claims that members of the fishing crew had threatened to kill “Bunga” and as such, relatives believe that foul play was involved in the man’s demise. Yoganand Tamsar said he spent a few days with the crew and after a fight broke out, he demanded to be taken back to shore, it was then that “Bunga” was collected. Tamsar gave the aliases of some of the crew members as: “Twisie”, “Bow” and “Plugga”. He said “Plugga” was the captain of the vessel. The name of the other crew member he could not remember but he referred to him as “Lall’s son”.
The family is calling for a thorough investigation into the man’s death. Narine leaves to mourn four children and seven siblings.
