Relatives of kidnapped 17-year-old pray for help

Relatives of 17-year-old Kenrick Morgan, who was kidnapped at sea two weeks ago, are hoping for an intervention from God to secure his safe return. The 17-year-old, form five Moruga Secondary student is believed to be in Venezuela.

One of Morgan’s relatives said, on Thursday, they received a phone call from the kidnappers who allowed the boy to have a brief conversation with them. The relative did not want to divulge too much information and said the family was praying.

Another relative said, “That was it, that was the last time we heard from him. Kenrick said he was okay. The family is praying and praying because we do not have any money. We are poor people.”

Morgan, who lives in Gran Chemin, Moruga, and his cousin, 24-year-old Kendell Singh, who lives at Basse Terre Village, went fishing on January 12 off the coast at Moruga. A few days later, relatives received a call from Spanish-speaking men who initially gave a ransom demand of US$40,000 for their safe return. The kidnappers, one who spoke English, threatened to kill the cousins if the ransom was not met. Last Saturday was the deadline for the first ransom demand.

On Thursday the kidnappers again contacted the family and reduced the demand to US$20,000 but also called for five iPhones. Relatives could not say when the deadline for the second demand would be.

A family member said, “The families do not have that amount of money. There is no way we would raise it. Help us Lord. His (Morgan’s) mother, Linda Boodoo, is not doing so well because of this. She wants to see her son.”

Anti-Kidnapping Unit and Moruga police are investigating.