By CECILY ASSON Thursday, September 4 2008

THE SKELETAL remains found in Tortuga on Independence Day (Sunday) have been identified as that of Elroy Quashie, 19, who went missing shortly after arriving in Trinidad from his Tobago home, seeking to buy a car.

His remains and clothing including a belt with a silver dollar buckle, a white jersey and a pair of blue jeans were identified by his father Roy Quashie on Monday at the Forensic Science Centre in St James.

Relatives said that on the morning of June 27, Quashie left his Golden Lane, Tobago home and boarded a Caribbean Airline flight to Trinidad, with $25,000 in his possession after speaking to someone in Trinidad on the sale of a car.

Quashie reportedly arranged to meet a friend at Piarco International Airport, but the friend later contacted relatives saying he (Quashie) never showed up. After efforts to locate him failed, a Missing Person report was made to police.

On Sunday, police officers discovered a skull, shoulder and leg along with items of clothing in a forested area at Cedar Hill Road in Tortuga.

Yesterday, a weeping Victoria Quashie told Newsday that her son “worked very hard and saved every cent” to purchase a car. She said the remains will be flown back to Tobago for a funeral service on Monday at the Plymouth New Testament Church.