Two fishermen from West Coast Berbice have been reported missing after their boat was discovered abandoned on the beach at Tain Settlement along the Corentyne Coast. The men, identified as 17-year-old Visual Parmanand and 32-year-old Daniel Inchanally, were last seen on Monday evening when they set out to sail the vessel back to their village.
The pair departed Crabwood Creek at approximately 3:30 PM on Monday, intending to navigate along Guyana’s Atlantic Coast to the Berbice River estuary, where they were expected to moor the boat at D’Edward village by 7:30 PM. However, they never arrived. Family members grew concerned when calls to their mobile phones went unanswered, prompting a search effort.
On Wednesday morning, the abandoned boat was discovered at Tain beach by a local fisherman who heard a phone ringing inside a bag onboard. Upon inspection, the engine was still running, but neither of the men was in sight. The boat appeared intact with no signs of damage or collision.
The families of the missing fishermen have expressed frustration over the response from authorities. According to Visual Parmanand’s father, Mahindranauth Parmanand, police officers were reluctant to visit the shoreline where the boat was found and instead met him in a nearby housing area. Efforts to enlist assistance from the Coast Guard were also unsuccessful, as they were reportedly engaged in another operation up the Berbice River.
Narine Ramsammy Sundar, Inchanally’s father and an experienced fisherman, believes rough waters may have played a role in the incident. Sundar speculated that one of the men might have fallen overboard and that the other may have attempted a rescue but was also pulled into the water. He noted that neither man had life jackets on board—a critical safety oversight given the treacherous conditions at sea.
The search for Parmanand and Inchanally continues as their families and local fishermen remain hopeful for answers. Meanwhile, community leaders are urging authorities to prioritize maritime safety and improve response protocols for missing persons at sea.
