As pirates torch fishing vessel off Guyana, Venezuela border
One man is feared dead and three others injured and receiving medical attention in neighbouring Venezuela, after the fishing vessel on which they were working was last Thursday attacked and set on fire by four pirates on the high seas, somewhere off the Guyana-Venezuela border in Region One. Presumed dead is captain of the vessel, Vasdeo Persaud, also called “Dave”, 39, of Parika Backdam, while  “Peppy”, 49, of Vergenoegen, is said to be hospitalized in Venezuela.  The other two, “Keel Man”, of Hague and an 18-year-old of Amerindian descent, whose name is not yet verified, are seeking help in Venezuela to mount a search for the missing captain.  At the same time, they are assisting police in Venezuela with their investigations.
Owner of the boat, Mr. Deodat Bissoon, also called “Uncle Waddie”, of Hague, West Coast Demerara, yesterday related to the Guyana Chronicle that last Tuesday morning, his vessel with a four-member crew, under the command of Captain Persaud, left Parika to go to sea on a fishing expedition. He said that was not familiar with the men, since it was a new vessel and it is the first time that Persaud had taken it out to sea. As the Captain of the vessel, Persaud reserved the right to choose his crewmen.
He said that on Friday, he received a phone call from someone in Venezuela, informing him that the crew had met with disaster, and that the boat had been seized after being set alight by pirates; his captain had perished, and the three other crew members were somewhere in Venezuela receiving medical attention.
The report from Venezuela said that shortly after 11:00 hours on Thursday, four men, unknown to the crew, pulled up alongside them in another vessel and ordered them to jump overboard and turn the vessel over to them.  Terrified, the men who were standing at the stern of the vessel, refused to jump into the sea, at which the pirates reportedly threw gasoline on them and scratched and threw matches in their direction.  However, the breeze put the matches out before the gasoline was ignited, and the  men ran towards the cabin at the front of the boat.
The pirates lit a wick and threw it at the front of the boat. This time the vessel caught fire and the men jumped overboard.
Bissoon  said that Persaud, who suffered serious burns, was unable to swim for long and soon he went under.
There was nothing the others could do to help him. The other three continued swimming, and were later rescued by a passing boat.
A woman, whom the owner of the boat says he knows, relayed information to the owner, claiming that one man, Peppy, was hospitalized, and that the other two had sought refuge somewhere.
It is not clear what has become of the fishing boat, but unconfirmed reports say the pirates are demanding  ransom for it.
Another Captain working with Bissoon narrowly escaped being caught up in the tragedy.  Captain Sukdeo said that he had about two weeks ago come in from sea and felt sufficiently rested to take the vessel out on this run.  However, because Tuesday of this week would be his birthday, he requested to stay in Port so as to be with his family for the occasion.
And Pulmattie Grantam, the wife of Captain Persaud who is missing,  will be celebrating her birthday on Saturday.  The distraught woman recalled that before leaving the home on Tuesday morning, he promised her he would try to be back in time to celebrate with their two sons – Davin, 15, and Michael, 11. She said he called her twice by cellular phone after leaving home.  The second call was made on Wednesday morning, from Moruca in Region One, when he told her he loved her, and asked her not to let the two boys go near the trench where the neighbourhood kids swim.
Weeping bitterly, Pulmattie and Persaud’s sister, Danpattie, said they received the message stating that he had died, and they still find it hard to believe.
A report has been made at the Parika Police Station and Police are investigating.
Meanwhile, accessible family members have been contacted.  When the Guyana Chronicle visited Persaud’s home yesterday, family members and other villagers were busy constructing a tent in preparation for a wake.