The father of a Guyanese man who died in a road accident in Antigua is appealing for urgent assistance as he remains stranded on the island awaiting an autopsy that has been delayed for more than two weeks.
Brian Bristol travelled to Antigua on 24 November, four days after his 40-year-old son, Brenton Bristol, was killed when the vehicle he was in struck a horse on Friars Hill Road. Although an inquest was completed last week, the post-mortem has yet to be carried out.
Mr Bristol told Stabroek News he had received no official updates and said the delay was reportedly due to a malfunctioning x-ray machine, which must be used before an autopsy can take place under local procedures. He said he had asked whether the scan could be done privately but had not been given an answer.
“I have been here since the 24th and there has been no formal word from authorities,” he said. “I just want to know what the process will be.”
Brenton Bristol, a long-time Antigua resident and Sandals employee, died at the scene. The driver, a close friend, survived with head injuries. The horse also died.
Mr Bristol, a former Guyana Defence Force officer who now lives in the US, said he felt “helpless”, noting that a death certificate — required for the body to be released — cannot be issued until the autopsy is complete. A family member must also be present for the procedure.
Police have been in contact, he said, but no firm timeline has been provided.
“We can’t be sitting and waiting. Please, just give us something to work with,” he said.
He thanked staff at Sandals Antigua and members of the Guyanese and Antiguan communities who had supported him during his stay.
Mr Bristol met at the weekend with Antigua and Barbuda’s Honorary Consul for Guyana, Robert Edwin Reis, who said he would look into the case.
“We just want closure,” Mr Bristol added. “Would there be this silence if he was a US, British or European citizen? We in Caricom have to do better.”
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Shut you @$$!!! Why you bringing race into the discussion? Wait your darn turn. You are not the only person who has to wait weeks for an autopsy to be completed.
I can feel the man frustration. I think the police force need a special branch just to deal with communicating with family members in those sort of situations.
Everybody cannot be lying on the authorities over their lack of communication
Slow down Sir and wait your turn! Speed thrills but it kills! Sorry for your loss! This is a sad situation we know! I’ve been there! We must let our loved ones know that they’re not the only ones on the road at any time! Be cautious!
A heartbreaking situation. When a family is already grieving, delays like this only deepen the pain. Some timely support and clearer communication could go a long way right now.
As a Guyanese living and working here, this hit me hard. Brenton was a brother to all of us in the diaspora. If his father is begging for information and can’t get any, it makes all of us feel uneasy. It shouldn’t take weeks just to get an autopsy done. Hope he gets help the man say he has to return to work.
When Mr. Bristol asks whether the response would have been the same if the deceased were from the US, UK, or Europe, he is raising a painful but valid question. CARICOM citizens should not feel second-class in neighbouring territories. Our systems need to reflect the spirit of regional unity.
Father likes to Rush, Son like to Speed
What the hell do you think?an autopsy is not like going to the supermarket and buy goods. You must wait on the availability of the pathologist, and wait your gar-dam turn. What the hell is wrong with you. He was your son and he was our friend. Why all of you coming here and criticizing the country when in your country the process is similar. Wait your dam turn. You just get me upset. If you can’t wait, do it yourself dam it
I feel sad about this unfortunate loss of life. I am also saddened by His relatives and friends who are suffering the heart-renching hurt caused by the delay of the autopsy.
But I find it strange, that in this country, a tourism country, we can not deliver a result on time for a case that does not warrant a crisis response. Is it just shells we are able to deliver an not content of necessary importance. What are our glorifying empty!
For Mr Patience Mr Brenton Bristol was not the driver so y would you say he like to speed?
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