OFFICIALS of the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD), led by Director of Maritime Safety, Captain Stephen Thomas recently visited the village of Muritaro and distributed life jackets at the Muritaro Primary School.

Muritaro is an Amerindian community located in the Upper Demerara River of Region 10 (Upper Demerara/Upper/Berbice) and which is still mourning the death of a villager, Captain Dale Duggin who died in a boat accident last Sunday.
Thomas took the opportunity to express sympathy to relatives of the deceased on behalf of MARAD and promised to conduct a thorough investigation into the accident.
In a continued effort to promote safety on the waterways, 20 life jackets were handed over to Headmistress of Muritaro Primary School, Mrs. Clorene Bowen.
The life jackets, which are intended for children, will cater mostly for those who travel by boat on their way to school and will also help to enhance safety on the waterways.
Bowen thanked the team for its visit as well as the donation of life jackets and promised to make the children wear them whilst traversing the waterways.
MARAD will continue the distribution of life jackets and promote the message of safety on the waters throughout Guyana, focusing mostly on the hinterland communities, all in an effort to curb the recent upsurge of river accidents, a release said.