THE Guyana Defence Force has refused to confirm if Private 21066 Dellon Nero was on duty when he met his demise on Saturday afternoon in the New River on the Corentyne in Berbice, where he was posted to perform defence duties.

Private Dellon Nero had been working with the GDF for the past seven years, according to relatives. He reportedly drowned when a boat in which he was travelling toppled in the river. This publication was unable to confirm whether Nero was alone in the GDF boat, but the craft was reportedly in the area where ranks would usually carry out their security and patrol operations.

The Guyana Chronicle was told that the father of one was not a swimmer. When this publication contacted the Guyana Defence Force yesterday, a senior communications officer would not confirm if the rank was on active duty when he died, but would only say that the young man was posted to the area.

It was further communicated to this newspaper that a team of investigators from the GDF are in the area, and it is only when they return to the city that the facts surrounding the death of the private would be known.

Speaking with the Guyana Chronicle, Nero’s sister Shonette Sancho, 22, said his death has really affected her, but she would have to hold up until the funeral. She said she had received a phone call which informed that her brother had drowned. “I saw him (in) December. He is a person that loves his job and loves to explore. I’m very disappointed at his death. He don’t know to swim,” Shonette Sancho revealed.

Nero was said to be the only son of his mother, June Sancho, and the only brother of his sister, Shonette Sancho. Asked how Nero’s mother felt about his death, Shonette said she dropped to the floor and couldn’t believe the news. His mother has been devastated by the news. She was speechless and in mourning when this publication approached her. All she could manage to mutter was, “Dellon is my only son”.

Nero’s body was recovered early Sunday morning, and flown into Georgetown later that day. Investigators from both the Guyana Defence (GDF) and Police forces (GPF) were flown to the area where the incident occurred to investigate the matter.

On Phagwah Day, a GDF rank plunged into a creek on the Linden Highway and fractured his spine. His friends saw him floating and thought he was OK, but when their suspicions were aroused, his body was taken out of the water and artificial respiration was performed on him. His pulse was there, and his heartbeat was apparently normal; but after there had been no response from him, his friends decided to take him to the Diamond Hospital. He succumbed to his injuries in the village of Supply EBD.

(By Asif Hakim)