Doctor’s murder: Employees who ‘found’ body detained

…Guyana has lost one of its most experienced biomedical pathologists – Health Ministry

The medical fraternity was thrown into a state of shock when news of the murder of 49-year-old Dr Collin Roach was reported.
The prominent practitioner was found dead on Tuesday evening in his Duke Street, Kingston office, and two employees have since been detained, Police said.
Dr Roach owned and operated the International Medical Clinic located at Lot 111 Duke Street, Kingston, Georgetown.

Police in a report said two males who work with the doctor on Tuesday said the clinic was opened for business between 07:00h and 15:00h.
After the clinic closed, one of the males went out of the building while the other retired to his living quarters in the top flat, leaving the doctor in his office on the middle flat.
Police said at 20:00h a male was seen exiting the building and returned about seven minutes later and re-entered the clinic.
About 22:18h, the vehicle belonging to the doctor headed north out of Duke Street.
It was further observed that the lights in the doctor’s office were still on which prompted one of the employees to call the doctor on his cellular phone, but he received no answer.
The medical doctor was later found lying motionless on his back in a pool of blood in the examination area.

Police were summoned and a wound was seen on the left side of the doctor’s forehead. Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) pronounced him dead on the scene, and his body was taken to the Memorial Gardens Mortuary to await a post-mortem.
The investigation continues.

Loss to Guyana
The Ministry of Health (MoH), in a condolence statement, said that Guyana has lost one of its most experienced biomedical pathologists.
Dr Roach, the Ministry said, was part of the pioneering team that began revolutionising laboratory science in Guyana and was a leading member of the team that began the transformation of manual procedures to automated technology.
“When PEPFAR worked with the MoH to establish the National Public Health Reference Laboratory (NPHRL), Dr Roach was the person that led the technical team under the then Minister of Health that put together the plan. He was appointed the first Director of the NPHRL. Later, he was appointed as a consultant to the United States (US) Centre for Disease Control (CDC). PCR (DNA) testing was also pioneered in Guyana by Dr Roach,” the Ministry’s statement read.
At the time of his death, the doctor was in close discussion with the Health Ministry as they began a new era of transformation for chemical pathology.
Family and friends of Dr Roach are also in disbelief at his sudden death, and are trying to put the puzzle together to discover what may have led to his demise.
Scores of persons turned to social media on Wednesday to express their condolences to his family.
One friend said, “To wake up to this news of your murder, my friend, is beyond shocking. What and who could have done this to you? My heart is heavy and my eyes are filled with tears! Such a noble, thriving, brilliant, and balanced soul! What a loss for Guyana!! Who did this to you, Colin?”.
“It saddens my heart to learn that I lost a brother and very close friend. If Kindness was a person this would be him [Dr Roach]. He’s always willing to help without looking for a reward. Always supporting with every effort for the youths around him. My heart ripped out of place,” another friend expressed.
Opposition Leader Joseph Harmon also extended condolences to the doctor’s family and friends. (G9)