WITH eight persons still missing in the Mazaruni River following a speedboat collision on Tuesday, the Maritime Administration Department, through Minister Robeson Benn, has announced that the activity has now moved from a search and rescue to a search and recovery mission.

The body which was recovered on Tuesday night, hours after the collision in the Mazaruni River, has been identified as 27 year old Devon Thomas the captain of one of the boats.
Still missing are Ulric Grimes, 35, of Lot 11 Salem Parika; Zahier Baksh, 35, of Samantha Point, Cane Grove; Deon n Moses of Wortmanville, Georgetown; Ville Ricky Bob, 26, of Barr Street, Kitty; Chris Narine, Keon Amsterdam and his brother, Francisco Alvaro; and a mechanic known only as ‘Tall Man’.
Among those treated at the Bartica Regional Hospital were Aubrey Bowen, Donita Daniels, Devon Thomas, Julitte Webber and Francisca Helena, whose husband is still missing.
Minister Robeson Benn was in Region 7 yesterday, at the crash site and coordinating the search for the missing. He was accompanied by Public Service Minister, Jennifer Westford, Regional Chairman, Gordon Bradford and officials of the maritime administration and coast guards.
Based on initial reports, it was determined that one of the boats was heading up the river while the other was heading out of the interior location when the accident occurred. The mishap occurred in the vicinity of Crab Creek.
The visit yesterday saw the coast guards and maritime administration staff selecting and setting up a camp which they will use as a temporary base for the men to coordinate their search and recovery operations.
Already the work of the two agencies has been complemented by persons whose loved ones are still missing.
Yesterday when this publication accompanied the minister and team to the site, it was noted that there were two search parties both looking for two persons each.
Minister Benn made it clear that all resources must be used, with no effort spared in recovering the bodies and getting them to the respective families as soon as possible.
The full recovery process is expected to begin today and already persons have equipped themselves with hooks and are running the channel as they continue the search for those still missing.
The search and rescue camp will be fitted with satellite radio and other equipment as the operation is carried out.
Yesterday, Ministers Benn and Westford met a man who said that his two sons were in one of the boats when the tragedy struck on Tuesday. They are still unaccounted for and the man is keeping his fingers crossed.