ESSEQUIBO Police, continuing their investigation into the kidnapping of Pomeroon boat builder Fabian Gonsalves alias ‘Vampa’, were yesterday trying to verify a report that his relatives paid at least $20M for his safe release. Reports said he was expected back at his Hampton Court home since Tuesday but had not been seen up to news time.
Police Superintendent Alves, of Anna Regina Police Station, said he was unable to confirm the ransom story.
Gonsalves was taken from his mother-in-law Carol Adams’ house, at Jacklow, Upper Pomeroon, on the night of  June 3, when three armed men barged in through a partially open door at around 22:00 hrs.
At the time, the victim, Adams and another boat builder, Chris Williams were watching television. The abductors bound Adams and Williams and took Gonsalves away.
One nearby resident said he heard high-power engines in the vicinity that night and the incident was reported at Charity Police Station, also on the Essequibo Coast, the next day, by Gonsalves’ wife, Philomena, who was at Hampton Court when it happened.
Essequibo Police also mounted a search in Pomeroon and on the Essequibo Coast but they, like his relatives and friends, were unsuccessful in finding the missing man.
It is suspected that Gonsalves was taken to neighbouring Venezuela but his family has been saying very little to the media.
However, one relative said he could not speculate on the motive for the kidnapping as Gonsalves was a very easy going individual who does not get into the way of anybody else.
He said, meantime, they are fearful for their lives and hardly sleep at nights.