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Lindeners concerned about drunk river operators
Two Sundays ago, two men lost their lives in a horrific accident in the Demerara river, about twenty five miles upriver from Linden.
Speculation was rife, as to what could have caused the accident.
There was the view that the captain of the offending boat was under the influence of alcohol, and there were allusions to speeding, and inadequate lighting.
Whatever the cause, two men died, and relatives are still grieving.
Boats moored at the Co-op Crescent Riverside
Boat accidents are a rarity in the upper Demerara River, so whenever they occur, the first reaction is shock.
But to some people who are forced to ply the water top to go about their business, accidents are to be expected.
One man, Gregory Robeiro, who was fortunate to have survived a boating accident almost a year ago, told this newspaper after his brush with death- ‘somebody is going to die, in this river, and only then people will take care”.
Robiero had been run over, like the two men who were recently killed, but he was fortunate.
However his boat was split down the middle and up to the time of our interview, Robiero was still seeking to be compensated for his losses.
He was adamant that there is too much speed and ‘recklessness’ on the river.
There are others who share the same view, and though they cannot prove it, there are those who are convinced that the recent accident was caused by speeding and/or driving under the influence.
According to reports, the boat that was operated by one Telford Lim had run over the other boat, which was travelling in the opposite direction.
The offending boat was reportedly returning from Linden. “It run straight over them, licking the engine clean off the boat”, a relative of Dale Duggin reported.
Relatives suspected that the captain of the boat was drunk, but this could not be determined, as according to reports, no breathalyzer was done, even though the man was held and interrogated by police.
But some residents of Linden have voiced their concern, about persons plying the river, while under the influence, especially on weekends.
Every weekend several boats converge at the riverside at Co-op Crescent, as residents from the riverain communities, come to do their shopping at Linden.
Some of the boats do not leave until well after sundown.
This of itself is a hazard many persons feel, as some of the boats are not adequately lit.
With Christmas and New Years fast approaching, there is expected to be an influx of boats plying the river.
What concerned residents want to know is, what systems could be put in place to prevent accidents like the one that occurred two weeks ago, in which two men lost their lives.
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