POLICE are seeking to identify a male body found aback of Kildonan village, Corentyne, Berbice on Friday afternoon. The body is suspected to be that of missing UK teenager Dominic Bernard, 18, who disappeared on arrival in Guyana last October.Police have also issued wanted bulletins for two youths of the same village, as they intensify investigations into the matter.
Staymon George and Aaron Wilfred Hing are wanted for questioning in relation to the disappearance of the British citizen. Anyone with information that may lead to the arrest of George and Hing are asked to contact the police on telephone numbers 225-6411, 333-2191, 333-2151, 226-1326, 225-7625, 911, or the nearest police station.

All information will be treated with strict confidence, the lawmen assured in a release.  George, 23, is said to be a resident of Kildonan Village, Corentyne. He is of African descent.  Hing, 22, is also from Kildonan. He is said to be mixed race.

Earlier this week, Bernard’s father made an appeal for anyone knowing the whereabouts of his son to please come forward with the information. At a press conference held at Cara Lodge, the senior Bernard told journalists: “I am holding this press conference because my wife and I need your help in locating Dominic. My son Dominic Bernard is a British citizen. He is 18 years old and is missing. Any bit of information, however small, will be helpful,” he pleaded.

The father said his son left London to travel to Guyana on October 14, 2015, adding: “He landed at Timehri Airport (Cheddi Jagan International Airport) at 9.50 pm, and has not been heard from since.”

Giving flight details, the elder Bernard said: “My son flew on BW 903, leaving London’s Gatwick on 10/14 at 12:50 pm, arriving POS at 5.30 pm on the same day. He then boarded BW 483 from POS to GT at 8.40 pm, arriving at Timehri at 9.50 pm. We know Dominic cleared customs, after that we have no information,” the lad’s father had lamented.

BODY FOUND
Late on Friday afternoon, the body of a man suspected to be that of Bernard was found in the Kildonan backdam, the hometown of the prime suspect Aron Hing, who is also the God brother of the teen.

The body was found in an area commonly called “Eight Mile and Third Reef”, some 3 miles from the Public Road in a clump of bushes.

According to police reports, intensive investigations led the detectives to comb the backland, and they stumbled upon a scent emanating from a shallow grave. The discovery was made at around 15:30hrs.

As news spread of the discovery, scores of people lined the streets and walked the 3-mile distance into the backdam to get a glimpse of the body while having to contend with swarms of mosquitoes.

They will now have to wait until tomorrow, as the police have closed off the crime scene and posted armed ranks to secure the area and body until arrival of a pathologist.

Earlier in the day, vultures were seen circling the area, hoping to get a meal of the corpse, as everyone waited on the pathologist and crime scene investigation team to arrive.

The wait was finally over at about 20:00 hrs when a high-level team of sleuths from the major crime unit in Georgetown arrived and immediately commenced investigations.

They were seen leaving with samples before ordering the crime scene closed and posting armed ranks to prevent anyone from venturing into and contaminating the area.

The samples are expected to be analysed and results disclosed soon.

The police have arrested a suspect, Alex Vellouza, also known as “Black Boy”, the neighbour of Aaron Hing, who has a farm a stone’s throw from where the body was discovered.

A wanted bulletin has been issued for his cousin, Staymond George, called “Convict” and “Stayee”. He is a close friend of Aaron Hing.

Persons at the scene were devastated at the news of the discovery of the body, believed to be the missing teen.
Speaking with Guyana Chronicle, an elderly resident was moved to tears as she said she was hoping the teen would have been found alive. Others expressed disbelief with the holding of the suspects in custody as well as those wanted, saying they don’t feel they are capable of committing such a heinous act.

The police are continuing their investigations.

By Nafeeza Yahya