Miner found dead in Pomeroon River; drowning suspected

Police in Regional Police Division Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), are investigating the discovery of a body in the Lower Pomeroon River.
Dead is 47-year-old Shawn Christopher Henry of St Vincent, Lower Pomeroon River. He was found on Monday at about 15:40h.
According to reports, Police ranks were on a routine marine patrol in the vicinity of Grant Enterprise, Lower Pomeroon River, when they observed a male body lying face down among tree roots on the right bank of the river.
Kalem Mentor had reported to police on Saturday, that at about 09:30h, Henry left his home in a wooden boat (15 feet in length and 4 feet in width), powered by a 15-hp Yamaha outboard engine, to visit Ruben Gonsalves’ shop, located about 800 feet away, to purchase alcohol. However, he never returned home.
Later that morning, at around 10:30h, 28-year-old Matthew Clarke, a labourer from Grant Aurora, Lower Pomeroon River, visited Mentor’s home in search of Henry. Clarke proceeded to Gonsalves’ shop, where he confirmed that Henry had purchased alcohol. Gonsalves recalled that Henry’s boat had drifted away and that he saw the miner attempt to swim after it. However, Gonsalves did not verify whether Henry successfully retrieved his boat.
Clarke continued his search and, about 400 feet north of the shop, spotted Henry’s boat and engine drifting along the right bank of the river. Despite checking the area, he did not locate Henry at that time.
The discovery of Henry’s body, in a partially decomposed state, prompted further investigation. His brother, 45-year-old Trevor Allen, a farmer from Grant Aurora, Lower Pomeroon River, positively identified him.
Detectives photographed and processed the scene before retrieving the Amerindian miner’s body, which was then transported by boat to the Charity Public Hospital. The remains were subsequently transferred to the Suddie Hospital Mortuary, where a post-mortem examination is pending.
Police suspect drowning as the cause of death, but investigations remain ongoing.