Body of missing fisherman recovered in Corentyne River

The body of missing Corentyne fisherman Alladin Dookie was recovered from the Corentyne River on Tuesday afternoon, bringing a tragic end to days of searching after he reportedly fell overboard near Orealla, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne).

Reports are that the body was discovered at about 13:00h on Tuesday in the Corentyne River, days after the 28-year-old captain went missing.

Dookie, who lost his mother at the age of 18, was raised by his grandmother, with whom he shared a close bond over the years. The elderly woman recalled that he had been supporting himself through fishing from a young age and would routinely leave home on multi-day trips to provide for his family.

Family members also explained that he would go on fishing expeditions lasting four to five days.

He had left home on Thursday and was expected to return by Sunday, but relatives grew increasingly worried when he did not make contact. His grandmother said when he did not return as expected she became worried. “He does normally go away for four or five days, but he would always come back. When he didn’t come back this time, I know something was wrong,” she said.

Dookie leaves to mourn his wife, Amrita Singh, and their four children. Singh, who works as a domestic help one day per week, was largely dependent on Dookie’s income from fishing to support the household.

The couple had been living at the home of the boat owner. Dookie, a captain of the fishing vessel “Gordon,” reportedly fell overboard on Saturday afternoon while in the vicinity of Orealla, some 50 miles up the Corentyne River.

The incident occurred at about 17:59h on March 21, triggering a search by relatives and law enforcement after he was not seen again.