Search officially called off
–relatives satisfied with conduct of the search
AFTER weeks of extensive and vigorous searching for the “MV Oliver L” and its three-man crew of Guyanese sailors who have all, proverbially, disappeared into thin air since December 22 last, local and regional authorities have reluctantly decided to terminate the search.
The local authorities have indicated that all possible avenues and courses of actions have been exhausted, with no positive feedback for the efforts.
During an interview with this publication yesterday, Director General (Acting) of the Maritime Department, Ms, Claudette Rogers, noted that, over the past few weeks, officials had been working vigorously to bring some clarity to the issue, but all their efforts have proved unsuccessful.
Rogers said that Guyana was in constant contact with the coast guards and police departments of several countries, including Venezuela and Trinidad and Tobago, in efforts to get to the bottom of this peculiar disappearance.
“We have exhausted all courses of action, we have no new developments,and we have decided to bring the search to a halt.”
According to her, no aircraft has reported sighting any vessel or any wreckage at sea; neither has any marine vessel traversing the waters reported sighting any wreckage.
This decision regardless, Ms Rogers said, the case is still open, and anyone with pertinent information should come forward. She said that the plight of the families involved is understood, and is not being overlooked.
Last Saturday, Transport and Hydraulics Minister Robeson Benn disclosed in an interview with this newspaper that Foreign Affairs Minister Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett had indicated that the search boxes set up in the Orinoco Delta have been completed, and there still was no new development in this matter.
Minister Benn had reported that the Venezuelan Coast Guards were contacted through the efforts of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and they had also conducted a search that yielded no positive results.
“I was talking to Foreign Affairs Minister (Rodrigues-Birkett) a few days ago, and there is no report of finding the vessel (or) finding the seamen.”
He explained that there were no sightings of any possible wreckage. “There are no reports of sighting of the vessel… Nothing has turned up as yet, and we had asked that ships and planes flying over the area keep an eye out for the vessel or (for) any wreckage.
“(The) Maritime (Department) should have issued a statement already. However, there were a few delays, and (a statement) should be released shortly. It will inform the families and the public at large about the decisions that were made.”
The three Guyanese sailors had embarked on their journey to the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago on December 11th, 2011, and were expected to return home on Christmas Eve Day, after spending a few days in the twin-island republic. To date, they are still to come home.
The disappearance of the “MV Oliver L”, reportedly registered in the name of Raymond Lord, has evoked memories of the traceless disappearance of two vessels owned by Mr. Dennis Rambarran — the “Gran Rio R” and the “Fiona R”, along with their entire crews.
“Gran Rio R”, a 228-foot cargo vessel with a nine-man crew, was registered in St Vincent and the Grenadines. At the time of its disappearance, on April 11, 2000, the vessel was en route to the Coco Reef Resort at Crown Point in Tobago, to deliver a consignment of 1,500 tonnes of silica sand.
The “Fiona R”, with six crew members, including Mr. Chandrama ‘Randolph’ Rambarran, one of Dennis Rambarran’s brothers, disappeared on September 23, 2002. Ironically, this vessel was also transporting silica sand to St Vincent and the Grenadines when it vanished without a trace.
The wives and families of the missing men have announced that they are satisfied with the way the search for their loved ones was conducted. They are, however, still hopeful for the safe return of their loved ones, despite the outcome of the search so far.