ORVIN Persaud, a 25-year-old of San Felix, Bolivar, Venezuela, drowned on Saturday while he was on his way to Guyana to celebrate Phagwah with relatives and start a new life.

The Guyana Chronicle understands that Persaud, whose parents are Guyanese, left his homeland early Saturday morning. Several hours later the boat he was in began taking in water. It eventually sank and his body was later found floating in the river by his brother and other searchers in the Tucupita area in Venezuela.

Relatives told this publication that he was coming to Guyana for a better life when he met his demise. His relatives in Guyana said that the news was tragic as they were eagerly anticipating his arrival which would have coincided with the Phagwah holiday.

His relatives at Golden Fleece in Region Two said that they were awaiting a call to go and collect him. However, they were told that the boat he was in capsized and he could not be found.

They were told that the body was later found and was taken to a mortuary in Venezuela.