By Prior Beharry
THE five missing fishermen were in Venezuelan waters.
This according to Minister of National Security Fitzgerald Hinds in answer to an urgent question in the Lower House on Friday.
Hinds said it was the caretaker of the boat Amanda, Mr Mark, who contacted the police on Sunday.
According to relatives, captain Davanand Seepaul, 35, David Seepaul, 60, Jeremiah Pasqual,18, Shiva Seepersad, 20, and Braiyer Alexander Gonzalez Ali, 21, went out to fish and have not returned.
In Parliament on Friday, Hinds said it was the Cedros police and not the families who had contacted the Trinidad and Tobago Coast guard on the missing fishermen. This was after police were told on Sunday by the caretaker of the 28 foot pirogue , Mr Mark, that they men went fishing on Saturday and did not return.
Hinds said the fishermen were reported to be in Venezuela territory.
The national security minister was responding to an urgent question posed by Oropouche Easr MP Dr Roodal Moonilal. The question read: “Will the Minister provide an update on the ongoing efforts of the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard and other rescue agencies on the search for the five Cedros fishermen missing at sea since Sunday February 25, 2024?”
Hinds said, “There were five persons onboard and they were expected to return that same Saturday night. But had not yet done so at the time of the report.
He added, “It is important to recognise that the area that the caretaker reported that the men had gone to fish was well within the Venezuelan territory. In fact, the names Greenbush and Mang, refer to the area where the Mangrove grows in the river delta, therefore, the men would have reportedly gone to an area where Trinidad and Tobago has no jurisdiction.
“The Coast Guard has been advised that searches had been conducted by fellow fishermen along the South coast and therefore, the Coast Guard focussed on the Gulf of Paria and along the maritime border leading towards the Grand Bocas on the off chance that the men had not gone to the reported area in Venezuelan territory.
“It was hoped that the ocean currents would have caused the men to drift towards the gulf. These searches have not yielded any positive results.
“The Coast Guard issued a media release on Thursday the 29th of February, denying that contact came from the family and denying that they were told by the Coast Guard that the boats were not working. That is simply not true.
“Given the foregoing the Coast Guard reiterates the caution to our fisherfolk operating in our south coast in particular that it is illegal to fish in Venezuelan waters venturing into the Delta region to fish or conduct any other type of activity should be avoided.”
Dr Moonilal asked in supplemental questions whether the two interceptor vessels docked at the Coast Guard facility in southwest Trinidad were not operational, but Speaker Bridgid Annisette-George ruled the question out of order.
He was also denied a response on how may Coast Guard vessels were not operational due to maintenance issues.
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