Fisherman still missing

Even as Coast Guard divers and Air Guard officials continued to search, relatives yesterday told Newsday they would not give up until Sammy John of Henry Street, Orange Valley, is found.

Police said John and another man went out to sea in a pirogue and then transferred to a trawler to do repair work.

A rope which fastened the boat to the trawler became loose and John jumped into the sea to stop the pirogue from drifting away. He got into difficulties and disappeared.

John’s sister, Samantha Gayah-Lallo, said yesterday her brother’s disappearance came as a shock to the family. She said only a few months ago their mother had suffered a stroke and now she is not coping at all.

“She can’t sleep at nights; she keeps crying. We did not expect this as all. I can’t believe he is gone.

This really hurts,” Gaya-Lallo said.

She said all the family wants now is to get closure. “We just want to find his body to put him to rest.

This is all we want and we will not give up the search until he is found,” she said.