POLICE in neighbouring Trinidad are investigating the death of two Guyanese construction workers who were kidnapped from their worksite on Saturday, and their bodies subsequently found dumped in the Felicity River, the following day.

Dead are Narad Sookoo, 29, and Tameshwar Doobay, 22, who both lived in St Augustine. Sookoo lived with his reputed wife Roxanne and Doobay is said to be Roxanne’s son-in-law.

A post mortem conducted on the bodies yesterday revealed that they both died from gunshot wounds to the head, according to Guyana’s Honorary Consul in Trinidad, Mr. Ernie Ross.

The chilling death of the Guyanese nationals was splashed on the front pages of all three of the dailies, – Trinidad Express, Newsday and the Guardian, in neighbouring Trinidad.

The Express lead story yesterday bore the headline ‘Bodies dumped in river. . . Grisly end for kidnapped Guyanese workers’. The story read ‘In a scene that bore resemblance to that of a mafia movie, two construction workers were found dead in the Felicity River.

“Narad Sookoo, 29, and Tameshwar Doobay, 22, both Guyanese nationals living in St Augustine, were at their worksite at around 4 p.m. on Saturday when two cars pulled up alongside the site.

“A group of men emerged from the cars and called across the two men.

“A heated discussion followed and the two men were bound by the group of men and bundled into one of the vehicles.

“Relatives of the men got word of the incident and made a report to St Joseph Police.

“Any hope of finding the men alive ended yesterday (Sunday) when residents of Felicity made a report to Chaguanas police at around 9.30 a.m. about the discovery of two lifeless male bodies floating in the river just off Shipping Road.

“The bodies were confirmed by relatives to be those of the two construction workers.

“All their clothing was intact with the exception of their missing shoes.

“Police said their bodies did not have any marks of violence, but suspect foul play in their drowning.”

Ross said following news of the death of the two men, President Jagdeo has asked that condolences on behalf of himself and the people of Guyana be conveyed to the relatives, adding the consulate would be providing whatever assistance it could to the relatives who have expressed a desire to return the bodies to Guyana for burial. Some relatives from Guyana are expected in Trinidad shortly.

Ross said too, the Consulate has been maintaining contact with the relatives of the relatives in Trinidad and the main focus now is trying to ascertain a motive for the killings.

Alluding to a Trinidad Guardian newspaper headline “Two Guyanese found dead in Felicity dump” and the story which stated among other things ‘Up to late yesterday (Sunday), police were exploring several leads, including that the killings may have been drug-related,’ Ross said he as well as the relatives of the dead men are surprised at the line taken by the Trinidad Guardian, even as the probe into the kidnapping and subsequent discovery is still ongoing.

Remarking that he is not seeking to defend anyone one, Ross pointed out that there are many Guyanese in Trinidad just seeking a better life, even as he is aware many of them do so illegally.

“These workers are at times at the mercy of employers who do not have their best interest at heart. Some (workers) have even had their passport seized and as victims of unscrupulous employees, the consulate has had to intervene on numerous occasions to defend these workers,” he said.

Ross reiterated that it is not correct for the newspaper to, while the investigation is still ongoing, refer to the deaths as having a drug link, as there could be a broader issue at hand.

The late Sookdeo, who lived at Canje with his parents Badeo and Nadira and two siblings, migrated to Trinidad nearly three years ago, his mother told the Chronicle yesterday by telephone.

The woman who said she last saw him in December when she visited him, described him as “a loving son, and a child any mother would desire.” Both she and her husband leave Guyana today for Trinidad where they will make arrangements to bring the body home.

Sookdoo’s mother said Doobay’s parents lived in Reliance, also in Berbice, but the Chronicle was unable to make contact with any of his relatives.

Our source in Trinidad revealed that Doobay’s relatives, having read the uncomplimentary report about him in one of the newspapers there, have declined to release any further information.