School children rescued after boat capsizes in Guyana

GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC – The police in Guyana have confirmed that six children were rescued late Tuesday after the canoe in which they were returning home to Venezuela, sank in the Cuyuni River.

Police said that the children were students of the Eteringbang Primary School in Guyana and were returning to their San Martin community on the Venezuelan side of the border with Guyana when the incident occurred.

The police said public-spirited persons went to their assistance and rescued them and that they were later seen and examined at the Eteringbang Health Centre in the presence of their parents.

In the statement, the police said all the students appeared to be in good physical health but were evidently traumatised. It said that the ages of the children range from six to 11 years.

Despite the border controversy between Guyana and Venezuela, nationals of the two neighbouring South American countries move freely across the border.

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