Relatives of former Caribbean Airlines (CAL) pilot and prominent Chaguanas businessman Azad Niamat are shocked but also relieved over the discovery of his body yesterday.
Niamat’s body was found in Tamana yesterday morning, one mile away from the Brazil Arena Road, San Raphael, where his Toyota Prado SUV was first seen. He was found 11 days after he went missing.
He served as a director on the state-owned airline.
According to reports, Sgt Jitendra Tooleram and other officers went to Brazil Arena Road after a villager contacted them, saying he found a body in the forested area.
The man told police around 10 am he was walking along the roadway when he got a foul stench and knowing there was a search in the area for Niamat he called the police.
He was found with his hands tied behind his back and his mouth covered with duct tape.
Police said there was no visible signs of violence on his body but were quick to point out that due to the advance stage of decomposition they are uncertain as to his cause of death.
Niamat, who lived close to the famous Lion House on the Chaguanas Main Road, left home on January 29, saying he was going to a hardware store to buy wood. He was never seen again.
A close relative, the only one at his home yesterday, spoke to the T&T Guardian asking not to be identified.
She said all other relatives had gone to the house of Niamat’s former wife, Greer Cumberbatch, next door to console her.
She said although the two had been separated, they remained close friends and Cumberbatch had been devastated by his disappearance.
“She had been taking this badly. There was no animosity between them. It was always Wes (as Niamat was also called) and she,” the relative added.
The couple has two grown children.
Asked how Naimat’s other relatives were handling the news, she said: “Whenever anything happens, I think of the worst and hopes for the best.
“Every day our prayer was to find him. I think our prayers have been answered in that respect, dead or alive.
“And while we are grateful to find him, it is still very shocking to all of us.”
The relative said she did not know why anybody would want to harm Niamat because she was not aware he had any fallout with anyone.
When the T&T Guardian spoke to her, she did not know the cause of his death as yet.
She said the family, which is Muslim, would wait until the police complete their investigations before they laid him to rest.
Chaguanas mayor Gopaul was shaken by news of the discovery of Niamat’s body.
CAL DEEPLY GRIEVED
In a media release yesterday CAL chairman Phillip Marshall said the entire CAL family had been praying and hoping that Niamat would have been found safe and alive.
“All of us at Caribbean Airlines are deeply grieved at this tragic news.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with his family at this time and we stand ready in the days and weeks ahead to extend our support in whatever way we can,” Marshall said.
He extended condolences on behalf of CAL and its board of directors.
“We are still coming to terms with the tragic loss of a member of the Caribbean Airlines family, who used his experience and wise counsel to serve the airline and its people for whom he so passionately cared. This is a sad day for all of us,” Marshall added.