…says Guyana has lost a genuine national asset
The Government of Guyana through the Ministry of Health has condemned the murder of well known physician, Collin Roach.
Roach was found stabbed to death in his Duke Street Kingston office Tuesday night. In a statement the ministry said it is saddened and shocked at the death of Dr Colin Roach.
“We express our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Dr Roach.”
“Guyana has lost one of its young, but experienced doctors. Significantly, our country has lost one of its most experienced Biomedical pathologists. Dr Roach was part of the pioneering team that began revolutionising laboratory science in Guyana and was a leading member of the team that began the transformation of manual procedures to automated technology.”
The ministry added that: “When PEPFAR worked with the MOH to establish the National Public Health Reference Laboratory (NPHRL), Dr Roach was the person that led the technical team under the then Minister of Health that put together the plan. He was appointed the first Director of the NPHRL. Later he was appointed as a Consultant to the United States (US) Centre for Disease Control (CDC).
PCR (DNA) testing was also pioneered in Guyana by Dr Roach..”
The ministry said at the time of Dr Roach’s death, he was in close discussion with the MOH as the MOH begins a new era of transformation for chemical pathology.
“Guyana has lost a genuine national asset.
We mourn his loss and our prayers are extended to his family. May God bring peace to his family and help them recover from this massive loss.”
In a statement police said two male suspects have been detained for questioning. Additionally, police said the doctor’s two cell phones and his motorcar PXX 4000 have been stolen.
Preliminary investigations revealed that Dr. Roach owned and operated the International Medical Clinic located in a three-storied building at Lot 111 Duke Street Kingston.
According to the two males who work with the doctor, on 2021-11-02, the clinic was opened for business between 07:00hrs and 15:00hrs. After clinic closed, one of the males went out while the other retired to his living quarters in the top flat, leaving the doctor in his office on the middle flat.
It is further alleged that about 20:00hrs a male was seen exiting the building who returned about seven minutes later and re-entered the clinic.
About 22:18hrs the vehicle belonging to the doctor drove out of Duke Street heading north.
It was further observed that the lights in the doctor’s office were still on which prompted one of the males to call the doctor on his cellular phone but he got no answer.
The other male was alerted and using their office keys he went to turn off the said lights when he discovered the doctor lying motionless on his back in a pool of blood in the examination area.
Police were summoned and a wound that appears to be a lash was seen on the left side of his forehead. EMT doctors pronounced him dead on the scene.
The body is presently lying at the Memorial Gardens Mortuary awaiting PME.
The two males have been detained for further questioning as early investigations are in progress.
