Bandits terrorise, rob fishermen

The victims: Francis Tate, 63, Lanard Ramey, 44, Mervyn Bruce, 42, Ashley Alfred, Roy Joseph aka “Dasheen,” 47, Rodney Hosepdales, 36, and Ashton Bernard aka “Plumtap,” 68, were tied up and packed like sardines in a boat during the ordeal.

They reported to police that six 75-horse power boat engines together valued $200,000 and the 27-foot pirogue “Felice” valued $30,000, were stolen by the bandits who escaped by sailing off in the “Felice” on the sea off Mayaro.

The fishermen yesterday complained of the poor response from police and the Coastguard officers saying both arms of the law came several hours after the incident, giving the bandits more than enough time to escape.

“The police and Coastguard believe they will have no profit in helping us,” stated a bitter Hospedales, whose hand was broken in the attack. “But now, I don’t even have bread to give my family. How am I going to take care of them with this broken arm,” he asked.

According to the fishermen, at about 3.15 am, while five of the seven were asleep in hammocks and inside boats at the Guayaguayare Fishing Port, four men pulled up in a car and started to beat the fishermen.

“I did not know if it was police or bandit,” Hospedales said. “They told me to lie down and don’t move. One of the men threatened us saying he was trigger happy and would be very happy to open fire,” he added.

Joseph said he was awakened from sleep by someone who was tying his hands. As he attemped to get up, Joseph was beaten.

The seven were bound with pieces of cloth and plastic tie-straps, then ordered to lie in the bow of a pirogue moored at the port.

With one bandit holding a gun and guarding them, the others tried to cut the lock to a steel door of the port using a blow torch.

After trying for half an hour to cut the lock, the bandits started to beat the fishermen.

They then broke some louvre panes and entered the port building where they met Tate, who lives in the upper section of the building.

The bandits then used a trolley to load the boat engines onto the ‘Felice’ which several of them boarded and sped off while the rest got back into the car and also sped off.

The fishermen later made a report to the Mayaro Police who are continuing investigations.

Up to late yesterday, no arrests were made.