Couva North MP Ravi Ratiram is calling on National Security Minister Fitzgerald Hinds to “immediately launch an investigation” into the events surrounding an alleged pirate attack on two brothers.
According to reports, brothers Clinton and Dennis Lochan, left King’s Wharf on Sunday evening to ply their trade when around 8:20 pm, they were accosted by pirates (unidentified) who, after forcing the fishermen off their fishing boat “Zack”, made away with the vessel. The brothers said they then swam for close to four hours before arriving on shore at La Brea to seek help.
In a media release today, Ratiram said while this ordeal in itself was traumatic, the events that followed are even “more reprehensible” as the men claimed that they were told by police officers no coast guard vessels were available to investigate the matter. As a result, the MP has called on the minister to provide the necessary resources to curb such incidents:
“MP Ratiram calls on Minister Hinds to immediately launch an investigation into the events as reported, with a view to seeking answers as to why the TTCG was unable to render assistance to the fishermen,
The lives of our fisherfolk hang delicately in the balance, because of the level of risk that they continually face, especially at sea. The proper resourcing of the respective National Security Divisions such as the T&T Coast Guard and the TTPS Coastal and Riverine Unit has a critical role to play in the safety and well-being of our fishermen,” he said.
Ratiram said further, that fishermen deserve better treatment than what is currently being meted out to them:
“If ensuring these basic rights and entitlements of security and safety cannot be afforded to our T&T fisherfolk then Minister Hinds must step down and give way to someone of (hopefully) greater competence who can.”
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