NGO to PM: ‘Bring home kidnap victims’

The NGO Fishermen and Friends of the Sea (FFOS) has appealed to the Prime Minister to help citizens who have been kidnapped for ransom in Venezuela.

FFOS corporate secretary Gary Aboud is urging Dr Rowley to use the “extremely cordial relationship” his government enjoys with President Nicolas Maduro to ensure the safe return of the nationals.

Aboud said instead of rushing to New York to give support to the embattled Venezuelan President, Rowley and Foreign and Caricom Affairs Minister Dennis Moses should be rushing to Caracas to secure the release of the kidnap victims.

A ransom of US $200,000 is being demanded for Jude Jaikaran, Jason O’Brian, Ricky Rambharose, Brandon Arjoon and Linton Mahabir.

The men, including Jaikaran, 16, who all from the Morne Diablo district, were reportedly kidnapped by Venezuelan pirates at sea on Sunday afternoon. Another, Jerry O’Brian,was reportedly released on Wednesday.

Aboud said the situation of TT nationals being kidnapped for ransom by Spanish-speaking pirates is not new.

There are mounting statistics of kidnapped citizens captured in our territorial waters and ransomed in Venezuela.

Dozens of fisherfolk boat engines have been stolen in the past three months.

“Why is our Minister of National Security Stuart Young silent?” Aboud asked.

He questioned whether the 14 derelict Interceptor boats Young promised would be repaired rapidly had in fact been repaired, and said seafarers could not be safe against a Venezuelan invasion if critical national security promises were not kept by Government.

Aboud also warned seafarers to be extremely cautious and prepared to cut anchor or nets at any time to flee in an instant.