Rescued in Venezuelan camp

TWO PENAL brothers who were kidnapped two weeks ago by Spanish-speaking men on Morne Diablo beach were rescued after relatives found them in a deserted camp on a river bank in Venezuela on Sunday. Relatives had reported to police that Spanish-speaking men demanded a US$15,000 ransom for the brothers’ release, but yesterday police sources said no money was paid. Re-united with their family in Morne Diablo yesterday, the brothers, Balchan Heeralal, 27 and Allan, 23, recounted how they survived on sweet biscuit, bread and water during their ordeal. The drama unfolded on December 15, after the brothers and two other men — known as Rodney and Dillon — returned from a fishing trip. According to a police report, the men had anchored their pirogue on Morne Diablo beach when they were accosted by two Spanish-speaking men armed with guns. The Spanish-speaking men, the report stated, ordered the local fishermen back into the boat and took them out to sea.

Upon reaching the Venezuelan shores, Dillon and Rodney were reportedly dropped off along a river, while the Heeralal brothers were taken away. Owner of the boat, Ralphy Ramnath reported the four men missing on December 15. But two days later, Dillon and Rodney made their way back into Trinidad waters. Ramnath told police that Spanish-speaking men had made a US$15,000 ransom demand, but never called back. The brothers were rescued around 5 pm on Sunday by their relatives Errol Ramnath and Ramnarine Sumai who had been searching for them in Venezuela since Friday. They arrived on a beach in Icacos Village, Cedros, on Monday and have since made a report to the Coast Guard and Penal Police. Surrounded by relatives yesterday at their Morne Diablo home, Allan and his brother Balchan, a father of three, said they were not ill-treated by their Spanish captors, but it was a very frightening experience.

Recalling the incident, Allan — who will celebrate his 24th birthday today — told Newsday that after the men dropped off Dillon and Rodney, they took them to the small camp. While there, Allan said their captors did not tie them up. “But one of them guarded us at all times,” he said. Allan said the kidnappers spoke to them in Spanish and fed them left-over biscuits and bread. On Saturday evening, Allan said a boat picked up the two men and they left. “Before they leave us they waved to us and left us with a pack of sweet biscuits. My brother took four and I took the other four biscuits and that is all we eat until we were rescued on Sunday,” Allan said. The brothers said they prayed to God that they would survive the ordeal. “We did not give up hope,” Balchan added. In spite of his ordeal, Balchan said he would be returning to the sea in the new year. Penal police are continuing investigations.