Int’l authorities now on lookout for missing Guyanese fishermen

International authorities have joined the search for four Guyanese fishermen, who have been missing at sea for over five weeks.
The fishing vessel was last seen just before it departed to assist a distressed vessel. Notably, the distressed vessel has since safely returned to port.
The families of Vickram Singh of Longpond, West Bank Demerara (WBD); Worrin Yipsam of Herstelling, East Bank Demerara (EBD); Hazrat Razack of Belle West Canal No 2, WBD, and Cicil Persaud of Sisters Village, WBD, have been on the lookout for a call on the men’s safety and hopefully, their return home.
The daughter of Razack, Subrina Bahadur, told Guyana Times on Saturday that they are waiting patiently for word. After local search efforts failed, countries within the Caribbean were contacted and alerted.
Bahadur informed, “We’re still waiting because they searched in Guyana and didn’t find anything to show that there was any mishap with the boat or anything. The search has gone international now so they checking Trinidad, Grenada, Barbados and other neighbouring countries. They have been notified already.”
The men went missing on November 16, 2023. Operations were initially concentrated within Guyana’s maritime space, spanning from the Demerara River to the Waini River mouth, covering the maritime boundary in the North West region. Vessel operations had also extended to target the shoreline within our territorial waters.
It was reported that the men would have received a distress call on November 16 via radio through Exxon from their colleagues who had gone out to sea since November 5. The men subsequently boarded a small boat with a battery and an alternator which were needed to fix the bigger boat.
However, the vessel, “Red Snapper” which had encountered mechanical issues, returned to shore without the four men.
In the face of uncertainty, family members of the crew were holding on to hope for the safe return of their loved ones.
Joycelyn Harris, the mother of Vickram Singh, had spoken with the media earlier this month and was in tears as she explained that he was the sole breadwinner in the house.
“How many days they search and them find nothing? Right now, me study my son night and day. He is the only one that does give me something. I hope and pray that he alive,” Harris had shared.
For Parbattie Fred, both her brother and son – Cecil Persaud and Hazrat Razack are missing. She had said the last time she saw her son was when he left with a battery to go out to sea.
“Them tell me them search and them can’t find them. Every day they search. Is me alone and I just want them to come home. I can’t live with this,” the elderly woman said.