Gone too soon, says family of young contractor

What was supposed to be another routine work trip ended in tragedy Wednesday night, when 28-year-old Kevin Bacchus of Queenstown, Essequibo Coast, lost his life in a devastating road accident at Riverstown.
The young contractor, who had taken the reins of his family’s business, was reportedly en route to a project at the Riverstown Primary School when his red canter truck, bearing registration number GNN 4987, slammed into a parked low-bed trailer loaded with an excavator.
The accident occurred around 9:00 PM, and despite the quick arrival of emergency responders, Bacchus was pronounced dead on arrival at the Suddie Hospital.
For the close-knit Queenstown community, the news has sent shockwaves just days after mourning the sudden loss of seven-year-old Emmanuel Jones, who died from electrocution last Saturday.
Kevin’s grieving mother, Rita Persaud, shared how she last saw her son heading out to oversee construction work — something he did often with pride.
“He told me he was going to check on the job site,” she recalled. “The next thing I knew, people were calling, saying something had happened. By the time I reached the hospital, it was too late.”
Though Kevin had studied aeronautical engineering, he chose to remain in Guyana and support his family’s contracting firm, a decision that made him beloved not just by relatives, but also by many in the community.
“He was always willing to help, always respectful,” one neighbour said. “He could have gone overseas and worked in aviation, but he stayed back and built with his family.”
His mother tearfully described him as her “gem,” someone who stayed close to home and looked out for his younger siblings.
“My son was full of love. I still can’t believe this has happened,” she said.
As the community mourns another life cut short, an investigation is underway to determine the circumstances surrounding the crash. Meanwhile, Kevin Bacchus’ body rests at the Suddie Funeral Parlour, awaiting a post-mortem.