Fisherman feared drowned in Corentyne River; family clings to hope

Alladin Dookie

Worry has taken hold of a Corentyne family as 28-year-old fisherman Alladin Dookie of Lot 686, #76 Housing Scheme Phase 2, Corentyne, Berbice, is feared drowned after falling overboard in the Corentyne River on Saturday evening.
According to reports, the incident occurred around 17:59 hrs near Orealla Village.

Police said Dookie, while attempting to start his boat’s engine, fell overboard. He was last seen submerging beneath the water and did not resurface.

Authorities were alerted, and police visited the scene later that evening. A search operation was immediately launched; however, despite ongoing efforts, Dookie has not yet been found.

At home, Dookie’s wife, Amrita Singh, and their four children, aged 9, 7, 5, and 1, are weighed down by grief and uncertainty.
The 25-year-old mother spoke through tears as she recalled the moment she learned of her husband’s disappearance.
“My mother called me around 5:30 on Saturday, and she was crying in the background. She told me my husband fell overboard,” Singh said.

The young mother shared that her husband, though a fisherman for the past seven years, was not a swimmer. The couple had been together for nearly a decade, building a life centred on love and partnership, with their four children depending on him as the sole breadwinner.

“My husband treats me and my children well. He doesn’t leave us short of anything,” she said. “Whatever he earns, he makes sure that me and the children eat. Even if he has to do without, he makes sure we are taken care of. My husband is not a bad person — he is very good. Anyone can speak about him; he is a good man.

“I want my husband to come home. He has four children at home. I want him to return safely. It’s going to be very hard — I am accustomed to going everywhere with him. When I have to buy goods or little things, it is always me and him. He makes sure we have what we need so that when he goes to work, I don’t have to go out. He doesn’t allow me to do things alone — he helps with everything,” she added.

Her voice broke as she expressed hope for his safe return.
“I never expected my husband to go to work on this trip and not come home.”
As the search continues along the Corentyne River, relatives, friends, and residents remain hopeful while bracing for answers.