Passengers miraculously survive two-boat crash in Essequibo River -nobody reportedly injured

TWO boats collided in the Essequibo River in the vicinity of Leguan at about 01:30 hrs yesterday, but miraculously, no one was reportedly injured, the police have said.

One of the boats was laden with agricultural produce en route to Parika from Leguan, while the other boat was going to Supenaam from Parika when the collision occurred.
Police investigations are reportedly ongoing.
On January 21 last, at about 11:30 hrs, two passenger boats collided at Crab Falls, Mazaruni, as the operators of the vessels were navigating the point of an island, and 11 persons were killed. Preliminary investigations conducted by the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) determined that either boat captain — Devon Thomas and Kobesh Persaud — was operating an unlicensed vessel which did not have on board the required number of life jackets and other life-saving equipment.
Both vessels were also overloaded, which altogether amounted to several violations of the Guyana Shipping Act.
According to an official report, the Dube was transporting 10 persons and cargo from Parika to Puruni, while the Mattrani was leaving Puruni destined for Parika through Bartica.
There have been conflicting accounts about the passenger load aboard the Mattrani. The captain and bowman gave the number as 12, including themselves; but a survivor gave the number as 14.
Those who perished in that accident included Deon Moses, 33, of Lot 6 Norton Street, Wortmanville; Kevon Ambrose, 25, of Vergenoegen, East Bank Essequibo; Brazilian national Francisco Olivera Alves, 48; Christopher Ramnarine, 21, of Parika, East Bank Essequibo; Zahir Baksh, 34, of Kaneville, East Bank Demerara; Jewan Seeram of Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo; Ulrick Grimes, 39, of Salem, East Bank Essequibo; and Jermaine Calistro, 27, of Boodhoo Housing Scheme, East Bank Essequibo.

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