Latest update March 28th, 2024 12:59 AM
Jan 01, 2014 News
– owner appeals for help from local maritime agencies
There is a strong possibility that the entire crew of Guyanese fishermen whose boat capsized in the Atlantic Ocean, just off the northern coast of Guyana, may be alive and well.
Reports are that the men are stranded on an island in Venezuelan territory, which is inhabited by the Warao Indians.
However, the owner of the boat, as well as other concerned fisherfolk, is appealing to the local maritime authorities for assistance to bring the stranded six man crew home.
Contact with the crew has been non-existent since Boxing Day, hours after their boat ‘Invincible 3’ reportedly turned over in the Atlantic. The crew, under the supervision of Captain Nathan Bacchus, had left shore on December 12 and were scheduled to return on Christmas day.
Initial reports had suggested that following the mishap, only two of the crew had survived, having been rescued by some Spanish-speaking sailors.
However, yesterday, a concerned boat owner who gave his name only as Mahase, told Kaieteur News that he received information that the men were spotted on an island a few miles from the Orinduik River.
“People get info that they on shore on a beach…but Venezuela is a big place. They were spotted among some Warao people who don’t speak English,” Mahase said.
He related that a text message was received from one of the men via a Venezuelan-registered cellular phone on Boxing Day.
“We have been trying to make contact with that phone ever since, but we are not getting through.”
Mahase indicated that he has a vessel on standby, just waiting to go to the exact area where the men are believed to be stranded.
“I am quite sure that they are alive and well…it is just that where they are, no Guyana phone can make contact with them. They are all on a beach…people pass and see them…but we need help,” Mahase told this newspaper.
His appeal for help was echoed by the owner of the ill-fated vessel, Rajendra Narine, called ‘Ram’.
He told Kaieteur News that the police at Charity, Essequibo Coast appear to be disinterested in the matter.
“The police(man) there deh pon he cell phone all the time when I go to make the report. He tell me if was anything serious, they woulda get a call,” Narine said.
“Me ah study this thing bad…ah six man life deh out deh,” he added.
The latest bits of information might be of some comfort to Angela Vieira, the wife of the boat captain.
On Tuesday, she had expressed slight optimism that her husband and his crew were safe, and had appealed to the maritime authorities to mount an aerial search in an effort to at least locate the overturned boat, with the aim of ascertaining the vicinity in which the tragedy occurred, which could lead to the possible rescue of the stranded men.
“I don’t know wheh these people deh. He never stay away so long. I am certain that something happen, because dey try to contact dey radio and ain’t getting through. Right now me nah gat life in me body,” the woman stressed.
“We hearing all kinds of news. Sunday morning I get a message that they on a sand bank, but only two survive,” she had told this newspaper.
THIS IDIOT TELLING GUYANA WE HAVE NO SAY IN THE 50% PROFIT SHARING AGREEMENT WE HAVE WITH EXXON.
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