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According to Minister of National Security, Fitzgerald Hinds, the five (5) missing fishermen from Cedros may have ventured into or ended up in Venezuelan waters. He made the comments this afternoon (Friday 1st March, 2024) in Parliament, while responding to a question on the matter from Oropouche East Member of Parliament (MP), Dr. Roodal Moonilal.
Minister Hinds said shortly after 6:00 PM last Sunday (25th February, 2024), the Cedros Police, not the families of the missing men, contacted the Cedros Coast Guard Forward Base to inform them that the caretaker of the vessel the men used (‘Amanda’), made a report that the vessel had gone out to sea the day before (Saturday) to fish in an area known as ‘Green Bush’ or ‘the Mang.’ The caretaker said there were five (5) persons on-board the vessel and they were expected to return that night but never did. The missing men have been identified as 35-year-old Captain Davanand Seepaul, his 60-year-old father David Seepaul, and three (3) others: 18-year-old Jeremiah Pasqual, 20-year-old Shiva Seepersad, and 21-year-old Braiyer Alexander Gonzalez Ali.
Minister Hinds said, however, that it is important to recognize that the area the men ventured into was “well within the Venezuelan territory.” He added, “In fact, the names ‘Green Bush’ 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.”
He noted further that the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard (TTCG) were advised that searches had been conducted by fellow fishermen along the South coast and therefore their focus too, was more concentrated on the Gulf of Paria and along this country’s maritime border, leading towards the Grand Boca. “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 Minister noted. He also referred to reports that family members of the men were told that the Coast Guard vessels were not working. “That is simply not true,” he said, as he sounded a warning from the Coast Guard that it is illegal for fishermen to venture near the Delta and Venezuelan waters.
Asked further by MP Moonilal whether the Coast Guard will continue with an active search and rescue mission for the men, Minister Hinds assured that will be the case. “Most certainly. The TT Coast Guard is committed to rendering assistance to all and sundry, particularly to nationals of Trinidad and Tobago, and more particularly with our fishermen,” he responded.
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