Passenger boat sinks in Essequibo River
A boat transporting over a dozen persons sank in the Essequibo River this afternoon.
The boat, captained by Anil Singh, is said to have been carrying 18 passengers, including three children.
No lives were lost.
The incident occurred around 14:30 hours.
According to information gathered by Stabroek News, the boat started to take in water around the Leguan area, where it sank.
When boat went down, persons were forced to swim and some held on to nearby mangroves.
According to Monitor for the Parika/Supenaam speedboat service Sweeshankar (only name given), the passengers arrived safely. He said that some are claiming they lost some items during the ordeal.
Another boat was sent from Parika for the passengers and took them to Supenaam. When the passengers arrived, they were not just wet they were all terrified.
“We thought that we would drown. The boat was just going down. It’s good thing for the [mangrove] bushes,” Anita Persaud, a passenger related.
Other passengers related that they were thankful for their live and are glad nothing worse happened.
Among the passengers was a troupe of comedians that was scheduled to perform tonight at a resort at Capoey, Region Two. Among them was Chris Gopaul, Michael Ignatius, Lyndon ‘Jumbie’ Jones.
