IN the midst of the confusion at Stewartville, West Coast Demerara, where residents and other individuals were helping themselves to items from the boat that docked there due to leakages, a fisherman lost his life under circumstances that are unknown at present. This newspaper understands that 36-year-old Franklin Andries, called ‘One Eye Noble’, of , ‘B’ 5 Bruda Street, Uitvlugt, was among the individuals carting off items from the boat that was transporting products belonging to Banks DIH Limited to the Essequibo Coast.
The boat had to be docked at Stewartville after it developed problems that made it unable to reach its destination.
Residents told the Chronicle yesterday that they firmly believed that Andries plunged into the water either from the seawall or from the boat and struck some underwater object that rendered him unconscious.
It was not until after 5:00hrs yesterday that someone discovered his body lying in the water.
Reports say the body was stuck between objects in the water.
His brother, Mortimer Andries, said the deceased has been a fisherman all his life, hence it was strange that he died under these circumstances.
His father, Tyrone Andries, said after he was called by Police officers to identify his son’s body at Leonora mortuary, he looked for marks of violence on his body but saw none. However, he said he observed froth on his son’s mouth and blood on certain parts of his face.
Meanwhile, the boat was emptied yesterday morning as residents stripped it of everything that it was carrying. When the Chronicle arrived at the scene, persons were observed on the boat still looking for anything that might have been overlooked , and others were observed leaving the scene with cases of soft drinks,
Even after Banks DIH posted a security guard there, the residents were not letting up on stripping the vessel of its belongings.
According to an official from Banks DIH, who preferred to remain anonymous, the situation at Stewartville became so hostile that security arrangements that were put in place had to be abandoned.
The value of the stock lost by the company amounted to approximately $20M, the official said, noting that the losses would have to be dealt with by the boat owners and insurance.
The official explained that the boat did not belong to Banks DIH and was one that was contracted from time to time. The boat was carrying the company’s cargo but Banks DIH, the source said, is responsible for the items from the time they were on loaded to the time that they were offloaded.