Captain Jackson replies to stranded Venezuelans on his ship

Sep 19, 2016 Letters

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Dear Editor;
I refer to the allegation that was publish in Sunday Kaieteur News on the 18th of September 2016, article heading” Venezuelan stranded in Demerara river beg for help.”
There are accusation that have been fabricated from my Venezuelan crew members, Luis Sanchez, Wilmal Chavez and Richard Gonzalez against me, Augustine Jackson) From my vessel, Mt Melissa Jay, they are saying a lot of lies about me.
An injunction was granted in the month of July 2016 against this vessel M/T Melissa Jay through Justice Diana Insanaly.
Since then until now I have been working tirelessly through others investors to sign an undertaken in order to up lift this injunction for this ship to go to work.
The Guyana maritime authorities are aware about this said vessel and her situation since I brought this vessel into Guyana on the 27 of march 2016 and anchored it in the Demerara River doing some repairs and to get this ship to set sail,
My businesses partners decided to break out from the partnership from on the 8th of May, 2016 and they filed a lawsuit against the said vessel by putting an injunction on the said vessel since then my vessel can not sail and work to produce an income.
I have been borrowing funds from friends to keep this vessel floating by buying food stuffs, fresh water for bathing etc and a drinking water; all these items have been transferred and transported through the help of the Guyana marine police located at Ruimveldt at the back of Ruimveldt police station.
They often assist by taking all the foods items to delivered on board the said vessel which I personally deliver most time. They are my witnesses. I couldn’t be able to buy luxurious foods items like steak, lobster and wine on the ship as the Venezuelan crews have wanted because the ship has not been working to make money but I have been providing a standard meal for all the crews on this vessel up to date.
Up to Saturday on the 17th of September, I sent more foods items to the ship. Every week I deliver foods items on this ship; there was never a day this guys went to bed without eating. There was never a day this guys went to bed without having a shower there is always a fresh water on board this ship and it can be verified
I went and bought a 15 kilos generator to runa power on this ship at least 12 hours a day to keep all the fridge working and air-conditions. Their accusation is a lie. I have paid the said crews some funds although not all their salaries but I have given this guys some money as part of their salaries and there is a signed document as a proof to that effect.
We signed a new working contract with this crews on the 8th of May 2016 with a new salary rate thinking that the vessel was going to sail and two weeks later, we received an injunction from the court and since then this vessel can’t sail. There was never a day I made a fun out of this crew with their salaries.
All I have been telling them was that I am working very hard to get them their remaining salaries, and fly them back home when the injunction issue has been resolved.
Since this ship has not been working it does not make any sense to have them there doing nothing and get paid while the ship is not working. I mean every businessman will do the same by sending them home but I can’t send them home without their money that is why I asked them to wait as I am trying every means to raise funds to pay them and send them back home. Regarding the other lies about me being a bad person and me laughing at the Guyanese authority is a lie.
There was never a day I uttered such words to the crews about the Guyana government and other authorities.
They are all lies and I am to available to confront this very topics with the crew present.. Guyana is my home and I am married to a Guyanese with a new born baby. I have never been ill- treated or belittled so why should I say anything bad against the Guyanese government and its people?
These guys are just ungrateful despite all the sacrifice that I have been making for them despite my situation. I have been to Marad’s head office to speak to Mr. Robert Millington, and the harbour master to talk about this very matter. I also went to the marine transportation office to talked to Mrs Ann Anderson regarding this same matter.
I was called concerning the Venezuelan crews salaries and I told them I am trying to raise funds to resolve the payment issue between myself and the crew members. They understood my plight.
So there was never a time I was called to face any questions regarding my crews and their salaries and I fail to be available. I went to meet the crew’s attorney, Mr. Collins Baveghems two weeks ago and I told him what my plans were and let them give me some time to get my new partners onboard and then we can pay the crew. I told him I will contact him on the 21th of this month of September 2016.
I dared any of my crew members -Luis Sanchez, Wilmar Chavez and Richard Gonzalez – to come forward with any proof of their allegation that was levied against me and what I have said against the authorities and i can proof that all their accusations are lies that were fabricated by my crew in order to belittle me and tarnish my character and that of the local authorities in this country.
Captain Augustine Jackson

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