Latest update March 7th, 2025 7:05 AM
“All we want is his body and justice” – family members
The family members of the missing boat captain who reportedly jumped into the Berbice River are calling on the relevant authorities for their assistance in finding his remains and for justice to be served.
Feared dead 48 year-old Shankar Kumar
The man has since been identified as 48-year-old Shankar Kumar of Uitvlugt Estate Road.
Reports are that Kumar, called ‘Coolie’ jumped into the Berbice River, some time on Friday after a fight broke out on the boat, ‘Savie Ï’, which he was captaining.
Another crew member, Trevor Williams, was doused with a pot of hot oil mixed with pepper sauce. He is currently being treated at the Georgetown Public Hospital Burns Care Unit. The owner of the vessel, Deonarine Sukdeo, said that he was told that the six crew members were attacked by one of their colleagues and that Kumar and two others jumped overboard.
The two were rescued buy a passing fishing vessel after swimming some distance but they related that Kumar didn’t make it to the boat. Two of the other crew members reportedly stayed onboard the vessel but were reportedly beaten.
Sukdeo said that the two crewmembers who stayed behind on the boat said that their attacker sought help from a passing vessel to get to shore. The alleged attacker also reportedly took the injured Williams onto the other boat. Williams was taken to the New Amsterdam Hospital by his alleged attacker who subsequently fled.
Up to press time yesterday Kumar’s body had not been found, nor did the police manage to locate the man who is said to be responsible for the entire ordeal.
Meanwhile, sources told this newspaper that the four surviving crewmembers have since been taken into police custody to assist with investigations.
Kumar’s wife Vidywattie Kumar and their youngest child, 9 year-old Vijay Shankar Kumar.
In the meantime, Kumar’s family said that all they are asking for is his body and for justice to be served.
They are of the opinion that he was murdered and thrown into the Berbice River. The man’s daughter, Indra Kumar, said that she was told that her father was stabbed twice by his attacker, who was also a crewmember and that he jumped into the river to save himself.
Indra said that she and her mother received the news via telephone some time after 22:00 hours on Friday. Fearing the worst, Indra said she began informing other family members who tried contacting him via his cellular phone.
“When we called a guy answered the phone but gave strange answers as to what he was doing with my father’s cell phone,” Indra said.
The man’s wife, Vidyawattie Kumar, said the story she was told does not add up and as such she is calling for a thorough investigation. “If it is he dead we want know how he dead and we want justice,” the grieving woman added.
Kumar is survived by his wife and three children with the youngest being nine.
Similar Articles
THE BLUNT OF THE DAY
Sports
Features/Columnists
Democracy without freedom
Peeping Tom… Kaieteur News- A democracy without freedom is a like a human body without breath. It is a like nation... more
The OAS Needs a Leader, Not a Battleground
Antigua and Barbuda’s Ambassador to the US and the OAS, Ronald Saunders By Sir Ronald Sanders Kaieteur News- The campaign... more
Weekend Cartoon
