The body of 58-year-old Ramlall Bassant, called ‘Rope’ and ‘Doc’ was discovered motionless early Thursday morning at East Canje, Berbice.

Bassant lived with his mother Pemia Bassant, a widow at Lot 13 Goed Bannanen Land, East Canje. Neighbours said Bassant never worked as he was ‘sickly’, but noted that he was a big consumer of alcohol.

His mother recalled him leaving home the previous evening and after he did not return she assumed he had gone to his cousin’s house. “This morning (Thursday) I got up and looked at the bench he usually sits on outside and me nah see him. Afterwards one of dem boys at the back, come tell me how he lying on the road with his crotch open,” the elderly woman related.

As a result she ventured to the area, referred to by residents as ‘Pandit Runner Dam’, where she saw the body of her son lying with his pants pulled halfway down. Describing her son, the woman said, “he was a good son who deh like tek he drinks, but he never give me any problems.” Meanwhile, the body remained on the road for over three hours before police visited the crime scene. A post mortem examination is expected to be conducted shortly. Police are investigating.