Great Bay:--- A 36 year old Guyanese-American man identified as Aubrey Tom (36) who arrived on the island on Saturday has been arrested by police as they investigate a drowning. According to information reaching SMN News, Tom rented a Jet Ski from Great Bay Beach Hotel on Sunday and was on the jet-ski with two girls when one of them fell off the machine.
Up to late Sunday evening, Coast Guards were busy searching for the body outside of Great Bay Beach. The body was found shortly after 11pm Sunday night.
The victim has been identified as Felecia Williams, 16 years old from Jamaica. Williams was residing in Sucker Garden and she is a former student of the St. Maarten Academy (PSVE). Also assisting police with the investigation was Shamira Benjamin, 15 years old from St. Maarten. Benjamin was also on the Jet Ski when the incident occurred.
The brother of the jet-ski rider told SMN News that he does not know the victim and he also does not think his brother knows the victim personally. The young man said that he is of the opinion that his brother met the two young women on the beach. The young man said his brother resides in the United States and was on vacation in Guyana before coming to St. Maarten to visit his mother and other relatives who lives at Fort Willem on Saturday. He described the drowning as a tragedy.
Interim Police Spokesman Geronimo Juliet confirmed that the rider was assisting police with the investigation up to late Sunday evening. Juliet said Tom was arrested on Sunday evening for causing the death of Williams through negligence. Police also confiscated the jet-ski as the investigation continues.
Juliet said police were informed about the incident around 5:30pm Sunday afternoon shortly after the incident occurred. The police spokesman said Tom rented the Jet Ski for himself and while he had a life vest for himself, the two young women that were with him on the jet-ski were without life vests.
