Minister for Foreign Affairs meets owners of detained fishing vessels

Hugh Todd, Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, today met with Mr. Prem Kumar Lallbachan and Mr. Trevor Daniels, owners of the recently registered Guyanese fishing vessels, Lady Nayera and Sea Wolf respectively.

During the meeting, he expressed the Government’s commitment to the release of crews and ships.

The Foreign Minister also updated the owners on the Government’s efforts including issuing a statement condemning Venezuela’s recent actions and passing a verbale note in protest about Venezuelan naval actions.

“We are doing everything we can to reunite crew members with their families and help you continue your business,” said the Minister.

The Foreign Minister promised to stay in touch with the owners and share updates as they happen.

The fishing vessels and crew were detained by Venezuelan navy ship Commandante Hugo Chavez GC 24 last Thursday. The ships at the time were operating off the coast of Waini Point, well within Guyana territory.

Crew members and ships are currently illegally detained in Port Guiria, Venezuela.

This morning, Todd called in the Chargé d’A Affaires Embassy of the Republic of Venezuela, Moses Chavez to hand over a protest note from the Guyana Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the Venezuela Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The protest note firmly condemns the detention of the captains and crews of registered Guyanese fishing vessels, Lady Nayera and the Sea Wolf, and calls for their immediate release.

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