As the search for four fishermen who were expected back from sea on Thursday entered its second day the men’s relatives began fearing the worst after coming up empty-handed.
Those missing are the boat’s captain Michael Ramlochan, 38; Basdeo Ramphal, a.k.a ‘Buddy,’ 25; his cousin Ramlall Ramphal, 20; and Peter Torres, who is only 14. Their relatives told Stabroek News last evening that an ice box, which was positively identified by Ramlochan’s wife, was yesterday found by a fisherman at Charity. A quantity of fish was found in the box which was later taken to the Charity Police Station.
The 12-year-old brother of missing 14-year-old Peter Torres ponders his sibling’s fate.
The three men live within walking distance of each other’s home in the village of Unity, Mahaica, while Torres, lives in the nearby village of Lancaster.
Speaking to Stabroek News at Unity yesterday, relatives of the crew said that they would normally go out to sea for a two-day period. Harry Ramphal, an uncle of Basdeo and Ramlall, explained that his nephews would normally go out to sea on Tuesday’s and return by Thursday afternoon, the latest. He said the men were expected to sell their catch on Friday morning but relatives thought nothing of it since they were of the opinion that the boat, Sir Kegan, may have encountered engine problems or that the crew may have decided to spend additional time at sea. He said relatives of the men became worried when another fisherman on Sunday related that he found piece of a flag and part of a fishing seine on Friday morning out at sea. He said Ramlochan’s wife, Nalinie positively identified the flag and a search party was immediately mobilised after reporting the men missing to the police. The man said he and other members of the search party reached some distance out at sea in three boats on Sunday up until 6 pm but their efforts were in vain. He said the police also took the fisherman who alerted relatives of the piece of flag into custody but he was subsequently released.
Michael Ramlochan’s daughter Chelisa (left) sits next to her aunt and Ramlochan’s sister-in-law, Surujdai Persaud as the two look at photographs of the fisherman.
A friend of the crew, Shivnarine Doobay, told this newspaper at Mahaica yesterday that he transported a six-man search party by bus to Parika early yesterday morning and the group, including relatives, intended to continue their search at sea. He said while working out the cost for hiring a boat at Parika, the search party was informed of a boat bearing the description of the missing boat being seen drifting close to Moruca in the North West District. This turned out to be false when the search party arrived at Moruca.
Ramlochan’s relatives told this newspaper that he has been working at sea for a number of years. His sister-in-law, Surujdai Persaud, said her sister, Ramlochan’s wife Nalini, left early yesterday morning to launch another search from the Meadow Bank wharf. His nine-year-old daughter Chelisa expressed hope that her father would soon be found alive.
Torres, who is a student of the Lancaster Secondary School, left his home without the knowledge of his parents. At the lad’s home yesterday, his younger brother Andrew related that his sibling left early on Tuesday morning before other members of his household woke up. Andrew took this newspaper to a small room at the bottom-flat of the house where his older brother usually sleeps. He said his brother would normally go out to sea during holidays and weekends. The two boys have been living with their father and stepmother since their mother died a few years ago.
While this newspaper visited Unity yesterday, a team of officials from the Ministry of Agriculture, including Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud, met relatives of the men. The officials then left the village with a few residents for the Meadowbank wharf.
Michael Ramlochan
Michael Ramlochan
The men’s relatives, aided by the GDF Coastguard, will continue scouring the seas today in search of the missing fishermen.
Such a tragedy- and to think that the PPP wont help these poor people eh? Oh well, they will come around in 2011 when they need yaal vote.
All of a sudden some of you come from nowhere to critisize the PPP and the Government,,, when you were there enjoying the sweet no one knew, when Jagdeo and the Government throw you out of the Party for wrong doing then you are ready to critisize,,,same as the PNCR , the Government is so bad, so corrupt, so incompetent and yet they are calling for power sharing,,,why will you want anything to do with government like this??? Why?
because if they get through with power sharing PNCR will kick them out.Cant u see that?
“Lost at Sea” such situations arise from time to time, they occurred in ancient times and will continue to occur, these are some of the challenges fishermen have to face and will continue to face in this type of occupation, the Government back then, present and future has nothing to do with things like this. Seem as though the Government is being blamed for everything, talk about “giving a dog a bad name and hanging him” While I sympathize with the loss, many times humans are engineers of their own demise, Did you see the Perfect storm? It was man’s greed, lack of initiative, poor judgement and failure to listen to reasoning that caused so many to be lost at sea. Could the situation have been similar in this case, maybe defective boat, insufficient fuel, overload etc. So many things should be taken into consideration before blaming the Govt.
PS. I am not a supporter of the PPPC but I think I times they get more than their fair share of negatives.
Some people just relish on other people’s misfortune just to criticize the PPP. Govt.
So sad, hope they are found and return safely to their families, fishing is a dangerous job, but somebody got to do it.
That is sad to know, but gods know best leave it to him.
I know there is always a hullabaloo about the great work of the Minister of Social Services, but can she explain what mechanisms are in place to ensure that a 14 year old is not readily employed to a life at sea?
I am sorry, everyone, if she were to answer that, she will now have to answer why it is at all major commercial centres we have so many young people (about 8-10)begging in Chinese restaurants etc.
Oh, and what about the Minister of Agriculture? What’s his name again? Is he and his inept partner Rohee, still blazing the trail when it comes to locating and prosecuting pirates?
I bet they are all pondering their president’s carbon credit scheme.
Such Tragedy. God Rest his soul. My condolences to Michael wife and kids. To my Uncle Rex and Aunty Shirley. The passing of a child is never easy to handle I pray the peace of god be with you. Condolences to the other member of the crew.
Where did you read that they are dead?The article states that they are missing.I am,and a whole lot of other people i am sure are praying for their safe return.
OH IS UR FAMILY. SO SORRY, HOLD FAST IN PRAYERS AND FAITH
This is really sad that these fishermen are missing and the search has to be done by charitable volunteers. These boats should have some CB radio for periodic contact with people on shore. 43 years after independence and backwardness still reigns supreme.
I hope these people are found. This is really hard on the families waiting in limbo on the fate of their love ones.
did any one know if the boat was hit by a ship I work for 2 yrs at see and had a close call with a ship and that was in the daytime
so sad …. i hope that they will return back home safe . the PPP government dont have to do nothing with this .
how come is the govt.’s fault. some of you need to get ypur iq tested.