Venezuelan in court for illegal fishing

VENEZUELAN fishing boat captain, Julio Jose Rivas will appear today at the Port-of-Spain Magistrates’ Court charged with illegally fishing in TT waters. Rivas, captain of the “Alluvio,” appeared before a Port-of-Spain magistrate yesterday. He had his matter adjourned to today because of the heavy court traffic and the need for an interpreter. Rivas and his crew of four were arrested around 2.35 pm off the North Coast by members of the TT Coast Guard, in an artesian pirogue, fishing illegally in local waters. They were handed over to the Carenage police.

They have all been under house arrest, with their catch (under ice), at Staubles Bay, Coast Guard headquarters since Friday. Sources also told Newsday that since the arrest, no member of the vessel was allowed to leave the compound. However,  Lieutenant Commander Mark Williams, head of operations, confirmed the arrest and the fact that the evidence is still aboard. He gave the assurance that all the crew members, while under the control of the State, are being treated with utmost respect and dignity. Constable Dasent of the Carenage police laid the charge.