Guyanese fishermen back home in front of Venezuela
Boats docked at the charity wharf
Fishermen contact the family by phone on arrival at charity.
Kaieteur News – Finally, on home soil are the 12 Guyanese fishermen who were detained in Port Guiria, Venezuela along with their respective ships, Lady Nayera and Sea Wolf, for nearly two weeks.
Kaieteur had reported that the men were expected to arrive in Georgetown on Friday. However, they docked their Ships at the Charity Wharf located on the Essequibo Coast, Region Two. According to information obtained by Kaieteur News, one of the ships arrived sometime after 22: 00Hrs, on Friday, while the other docked early yesterday.
The men had been mistakenly intercepted on January 21, by Commo Commander Vessel Hugo Chavez GC 24, while fishing in Guyana’s Unique Economic Zone (EEZ) at Waini point just off the Coast. That area is part of Essequibo, Guyanese territory that Venezuela wants to claim.
The illegal detention of the fishermen had gained the attention of the international community that supported Guyana to call for their immediate release. Venezuela finally decided to heed these calls on February 2. In fact, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, himself, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, ordered the release of the Guyanese fishermen.
The men began their journey back home from Port Guiria, on the morning of February 3. Kaieteur News had received information that they were being escorted up to a point by the Venezuelan Military and continued the rest of the journey on their own.
By Thursday they were already back in their home territory and finally docking at Charity on Friday and Saturday respectively.
Upon their arrival, however, Kaieteur News was told that they had been ordered to remain on the ships, until they were screened by healthcare providers for COVID-19.
Kaieteur News was given the opportunity to learn about their experience during their illegal two week detention. The men indicated that they were quite grateful to the Venezuelan authorities for respecting their human rights.
Sea Wolf crew member Orlando Roberts said they were treated kindly, “more like humans than prisoners.”
Roberts added, “We spent the whole time in Venezuela on both fishing boats, so we had all the accommodation there so we didn’t really feel uncomfortable.”
Lady Nayera craftsman Michael Domingo said the only time they left the boats was for their court appearance.
Domingo continued to be alarmed at first, as he and his crew were clueless about what to expect.
“A Venezuelan army boat picks us up at a point off Waini, and then they take us over to Venezuela, at first we didn’t know what to expect but then when we got there they treated we are really nice. ”
However, the man previously held in custody noted that their custody had not been returned to them. “They take the fish away and drop the fish we don’t know what happens to it but we had nuff fish like snapper and gilbacker.”
Domingo was further asked to describe his reaction when it was learned that they had been officially released.
The craftsman replied, “As much as I was comfortable and not treated, I wanted to see my family back in Guyana again. So when I hear that I’m being released, I feel very happy that I finally have to go back home, because I’m the only bread winner. “
Despite the unfortunate situation that happened to them, the fishermen said that fishing is their only livelihood and that they will return to the sea and hope they are not saved again.