By Sue-Ann Wayow
MINISTER of National Security Fitzgerald Hinds is being called upon to act as five men remain missing at sea.
The call is being made by Fishermen and Friends of the Sea (FFOS).
In a press release on Monday, FFOS stated that the first 24 hours were the most critical time for search and rescue operations, especially in the rough seasonal North Coast waters. The vessel should have air pockets which would have a limited oxygen availability. A successful rescue operation would therefore hinge on a matter of time FFOS stated.
On Monday, the TTCG in a press release stated that due to the turbulent conditions, it was unsafe to do dives to search for the missing men who were aboard the capsized St Vincent vessel Fair Chance and the vessel drifted some distance into Venezuelan waters. Efforts were being made to tow the boat back into local waters.
FFOS stated, “FFOS calls on Minister Hinds to act accountably and transparently. Instead of ‘bringing the vessel safety to shore to conduct further investigations’, and to check for survivors did Minister Hinds ever think it worthy to dispatch divers immediately into the vessel to determine whether injured, damaged, living seamen were alive and trapped in air pockets inside the vessel? Can Mr Hinds explain that if they did not, then why didn’t they?
“If they did dive, then why didn’t the good minister make a public statement on the details of the search and rescue operations? He must make public whether any TT Coast Guard diver (and there are dozens), dived into the overturned vessel to determine whether survivors are trapped and or injured.”
The nation was still in shock and mourning over the death of the four underwater divers at the Paria berth and citizens continue to suffer the consequence of a failing national security administration “where our brothers and neighbours are neglected and left to suffer and die,” FFOS stated.
The group also asked if it was another failure of the poor public administration of the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard (TTCG) with corruption, murder at sea, piracy, smuggling, and human trafficking.
