Mazaruni boat mishap: Families of missing men desperate for closure 6 months later

Six months have passed since Troy Anthony Joseph, 35, and Cranston Davidson, 43, went missing after a devastating boat collision along the Mazaruni River, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni) and their families are still seeking answers and closure.

The tragedy, which occurred near BK Quarries Inc. on July 5, has left their loved ones heartbroken and grappling with financial and emotional challenges.
Felicia Edwards, the sister of Davidson, shared the struggles her family has endured. Despite initial searches by the police, she revealed that law enforcement only assisted twice before ceasing all efforts. The family was left to conduct their own search for two months, a process that quickly became too costly to sustain.
“Sometimes we had three or four boats searching with us,” Edwards explained. “We had to pay $15,000 per boat for gasoline each day, plus food and other supplies for the search teams. We’d spend about $20,000 on food alone per day. When you calculate everything, it was nearly $65,000 daily just to keep the search going.”
With such high expenses and many of the volunteer searchers needing to return to work, the family was forced to halt their efforts. Ewards described the financial and emotional toll this has taken, especially as the Christmas season—normally a time when Joseph and Davidson would return from work in the interior to spend time with their families—brings fresh waves of grief.
“My mother cries every day because they’re not here,” Ewards said. “Cranston has seven children, and Troy has three. They were the breadwinners for their families…”
The family is also frustrated with the lack of progress in the investigation. According to Haley, the last contact they had with the police was a month ago, when they were asked to sign a statement. They were informed that the case had been sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for advice, but there has been no communication since.
Meanwhile, she said the boat captain and other individuals involved in the collision have reportedly been released and are living freely. “It’s frustrating,” Edwards said. “We don’t even know where our loved ones are.”
As the family prepares to face the Christmas holidays without Joseph and Davidson, they are appealing to the authorities and the wider community for support and answers. Edwards emphasized that this tragedy has left their families in despair, with no closure or justice in sight.
The boat accident when a boat piloted by Oswald Hudson Sr., 60, collided head-on with another vessel steered by Shavez Thomas, 29. The impact ejected all passengers into the water. While six people were rescued, the body of Hudson Jr. was later recovered, leaving two others unaccounted for.
Since the accident, the families of the missing men have voiced frustration over the insufficient support from authorities. Although police initially reported Hudson Jr.’s death, it was later revealed by the families that Davidson and Joseph had also been aboard the boat.
On the day of the incident, an article highlighted the families’ growing concerns over the limited assistance provided by law enforcement. In response, the Maritime Administration (MARAD) and police joined the families in search efforts, conducting operations in the Mazaruni and Essequibo Rivers on July 6, 9, and 10.
Despite their efforts, no further discoveries were made. Another team arrived on the following day to assist, but according to Edward, their involvement lasted just one and a half days.
Davidson’s sister also noted that Thomas, the operator of the second boat, was arrested and later released on bail. (LaWanda McAllister)