Home Top Stories 3 feared dead, 1 survives after fishing trawler reportedly capsizes
…families of missing fishermen seek answers
…Govt launches probe
Three fishermen are feared dead after their trawler reportedly capsized in the Atlantic Ocean some 18 miles off of the Mahaicony Coast on Saturday morning.
A fourth crew member survived the ordeal after being rescued by another fishing boat and was brought to shore on Saturday afternoon.
Missing are the 44-year-old Captain, Harold Damon of Lot 4 Water Street, Agricola, Greater Georgetown; 78-year-old Ronald Burton of Lot 23 Water Street, Agricola, and 47-year-old Winston Sam of Lot 32 Public Road, McDoom, Greater Georgetown. 
Guyana Times was informed that the surviving fisherman, Vincent Dazzell, told family members of the three missing men that the vessel, which is owned by Nobel House Seafoods, started taking in water early Saturday morning.
Dazzell, who is also from Agricola, claimed that he was awoken by the captain sometime after 06:00h to check the boat, when he saw the engine room, ice-hold and ladder were already under water.
At that point, the captain called in to alert Nobel House but lost connection whilst talking to them, the survivor related. He further recalled that as the boat sank deeper, they also lost control of the vessel.
The man told the concerned family members that the crew were separated on two sides of the boat – he was with the captain. Dazzell related that the captain instructed him to cut the lifeboat and went inside to get his phone so that he could try calling for help, when the boat capsized and reportedly pinned the three missing men.
The survivor informed relatives that he was in the water for some time before being rescued by another boat. The fisherman claimed that they circled the area for some three hours before heading back to shore.
Upon arrival, he went to Nobel House and informed the managers there of what transpired.
However, the family members of the three missing men are all fuming with anger over how the matter is being handled by the company.
They argued that not only did the company fail to inform them of the incident but claimed that it is withholding information from them.
According to Captain Damon’s wife, Tonszadel, “We thought that it just happen because this was till around 7 (pm) that we get the call. But then we get to know that is since the morning the thing happen. The guy who survive [later on] said the boss take him to Woodlands to get check-up and so. So, all this happen nobody tell we anything,” the distraught woman added.
In fact, it was Damon’s family who informed the families of Sam and Burton about the incident.
Tonszadel further related that it was not until family members of all three men went to Noble House to enquire about the incident that they were informed. However, this was not before the worried relatives began creating a raucous that a manager finally came out to see them.
“The manager took a while to come and then when he did, he told us that the boat went down. He said only one survivor came in [Saturday afternoon] and that he was at the station, and that it had other boats and trawlers out there looking for the other three missing crew members,” Sam’s brother-in-law, Terrence Bobb, told this newspaper.
However, the families later learnt that no reports were made to the Police until Sunday morning.
Seeking answers
He explained that this was only Sam’s second trip out to sea and the only reason the man went was because he and Damon were friends. The captain was short of a crew member and requested his friend’s help.
“His wife begged him not to go but he said this is the last time he will go. He said when he come back, he won’t go back out,” Bobb related.
Moreover, the families are also questioning the details that were related to them by the surviving fisherman.
“It doesn’t sound right… Something not adding up,” Sam’s brother-in-law related.
Meanwhile, the granddaughter of Burton said, “We really need justice… right now we’re really sad and we want to know exactly what happened…Why Nobel House didn’t get on to the families of the missing crew members?”
“Then [Dazzell] tell us one thing and he tell the Police something different… It’s doesn’t make sense. The combination they’re trying to tell us is not measuring up,” Tatiana Niles claimed.
She said Burton had been working as a fisherman for over 50 years and this was his first trip in two years. He had not gone out to sea during that time due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The men went out to the ocean last Sunday and were expected back on Saturday.
Damon’s wife said that a captain from another fishing company told her that he spoke with Damon every day and last heard from him on Friday. He did not indicate that they were having any troubles with the vessel.
However, Tonszadel told Guyana Times that her husband would usually complain about the poor state of the vessels that he is given to operate. She related that sometimes the boat would even break down and they would have to call for backup.
According to the wife, this vessel – “Worldfriend 307” – was “not so old but it wasn’t new either. This was his second time taking this boat out to sea.”
Efforts by this newspaper to contact officials from Noble House for a comment were futile.
Nevertheless, Guyana Times was informed that since the matter was reported to the Police, the Coast Guard was called in and a rescue team went out Sunday morning with the hopes of finding the men. The surviving fisherman reportedly accompanied them as well.
Independent panel
Meanwhile, the Public Works Ministry in a statement Sunday evening announced that an immediate and thorough investigation has been launched to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the reported capsizing of the vessel that led to the three fishermen being missing.
“An independent panel was established comprising representatives of the Ministry of Public Works, MARAD (Maritime Administration), GDF (Guyana Defence Force) Coast Guard, the GPF (Guyana Police Force) Marine Unit, and the Transport and Harbours Department. We are very concerned, and share the anxiety and pain of the family members and colleagues of the missing men. The Search and Rescue Operation Centre was immediately activated, upon notification of this incident. Vessels and personnel, including divers have been deployed,” the missive detailed.
The Ministry further reassured that all available resources of the State will be fully utilised in this search and rescue exercise. Additionally, it was noted that private fishing vessels are also engaged in this ongoing operation. (Vahnu Manikchand)