SIXTY-one-year-old William Vanbrook, caretaker of the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport (MCYS)’s Camp Site at Madewini on the East Bank of Demerara, was discovered dead late Friday afternoon, locked in his home at Madewini.

This most recent death comes closely on the heels of that of Colonel Lindon Ross, former Assistant Director of the MCYS, which occurred on March 17 last.
According to Permanent Secretary of the MCYS, Mr. Alfred King, the body of Mr. Vanbrook, also called ‘Billy’, was found seated in a chair with two phones in front of him – a cellular phone and a land line; and his body bore no visible marks of violence, which suggests that he was apparently about to make a phone call when he passed away.

Rigor mortis had, however, already stepped in, prompting police and the examining doctor to surmise that Mr. Vanbrook might have died about three days prior to his body being discovered, which places his day of death at probably around Monday.

The building, heavily grilled, was locked from the inside; and the police have said there was no sign of forced entry.

Mr. King recalled that the camp site was being prepared for use by the President’s Youth Award Programme for a training programme, and that the manager has spoken with Vanbrook last Monday, detailing instructions in relation to preparation for the event this week.

When the MCYS got no further word from Vanbrook, they tried calling him, but all calls went unanswered.

Meanwhile, Vanbrook’s elder brother’s (Steven’s) wife, Seeta, recalled that she had last received a phone call from him on Monday, during which he had complained of having a pain in the region of his chest and abdomen. The conversation was brief, and he had hung up. That was probably the last time he had used the telephone.

During his lifetime, Vanbrook had enjoyed warm relations with his elder brother’s family, and would travel all the way from Madewini to spend Sundays and holidays with them at Lamaha Park; but this time around, instead of his usual visit, it turned out to be a farewell telephone call.

After the MCYS had not received any follow-up information from Vanbrook, an advance party (ahead of the training programme) went up to Madewini to seek him out. When they got to the building and found that it was locked, an officer peered in through a window and made the shocking discovery that Vanbrook’s body was motionless in a chair. The information was immediately communicated to the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr. Frank Anthony, who immediately made a personal call to the Commissioner of Police, requesting him to dispatch ranks to witness the horrific discovery and commence investigations.

At that time, the MCYS had 12 staff members on the ground, and the police arrived in good time.
The police were forced to prise open and break the lock to gain entry into the building; but after a thorough search of the building, police came up with nothing untoward.

William Vanbrook had been in the employ of the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport for about 12 years, having commenced working there on May 1, 2003.
Prior to that, he had worked as a Bio-Med Technician at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation.

He leaves to mourn his eldest brother Stephen Vanbrook, (Retired Chief Constable (Ag) of the Mayor and City Council (M&CC); cousin Patrice La Fleur of the UNFPA, Mahendra Vanbrook and other relatives and friends.

Police are continuing their investigations.

By Shirley Thomas