THE  badly decomposed body of Herman Emanuel Daniels known as ‘Purry’ , 61, who was reported missing to the Police on December 27 last, was found afloat in the Berbice River basin, shortly after noon yesterday.
The sailor/watchman had reported for duty on December 27, 2010  at the David Armagon sandpit at Sheet Anchor, East Canje, Berbice but, the following morning, he could not be located.
His wife of eleven years, Fazeena Daniels, of Lot 103 Sheet Anchor Village, reported  that prior to her husband leaving home at 18:00 hrs that day for work, he had requested $2000 but she did not acceded to his request. An argument followed with him reportedly telling her: “You won’t see me back again”.
The distraught woman said on that the following morning, she subsequently received a telephone call from one ‘Boogie’, a supervision from her husband’s work site, who enquired  if the now dead man was at home.
“I told him ‘no’, as Herman had left for work the day before. He asked me if I was sure, before saying  ‘girl, Herman missing’,” the woman told the Chronicle.
The widow said she became speechless and, thereafter, left her home in search of her husband at the various rum shops in the neighbourhood, without success.
Meanwhile, fellow employee  Elvis [only name given] told this newspaper that a staff member of Oldendoff  Company, [a  transshipment company facilitating barging, offshore loading and ocean transportation of  bauxite from the  mine located around 131 nautical miles up the Berbice River in Guyana] telephoned saying a body was observed floating in the vicinity of the mouth of the Berbice river.
As a result, the boat was fuelled and the police contacted, prior to him  motoring to the scene where his fears were confirmed.
Elvis said he knew  the now deceased for four years and while he was a good worker,  he was a heavy consumer of alcohol.
He opined that Daniels may have fallen off the anchored tug on which he worked as a sailor, while he was watching the vessel, as his torch light was seen floating, minutes after his disappearance.
Businessman David Armagon, who had Daniels in his employ for over ten years, expressed regret over the unfortunate incident and promised to take care of all related expenses including for the funeral.
He described his former employee as a good sailor  ‘whose only weakness was alcohol’.
Armagon said the now deceased hailed from Sand Hills, Berbice River.
The body is awaiting a post mortem examination.