A fisherman was left in shock after his boat was torched on the Vergenoegen, East Bank Essequibo foreshore in the early hours of yesterday morning.
Tardevnauth Ramana, called ‘Suraj,’ of Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo, said that his losses amounted to $2.5 million. Apart from the badly-burnt boat, his 800 pounds seine was destroyed as well as the icebox and the fuel tanks.
He usually takes the boat’s engine home and did so when he moored on Saturday. While no suspects have been identified, Ramana said that he had had an issue with some relatives and had received threats.
Relatives said that the blaze was seen at about 12:30am yesterday. Ramana told Stabroek News that at about 1:04 am yesterday, he received a call and was told that a boat was on fire. A few minutes later, he was told that it was his. He said that he rushed to the scene but by that time the fire was put out though parts of the boat were still smouldering.
Watchmen at a nearby business had first noticed the blaze and raised the alarm. Some of Ramana’s relatives live in the area and they as well as other residents helped put the fire out. The tide was low at the time and it was noted that the perpetrator(s) could have escaped easily.
Ramana said that shortly after the blaze was seen, someone called his older daughter from a blocked telephone number and told her that they had finished with her father and she “gon be the next person.” He said that he had no problems with anyone only with a relative due to an incident that occurred about a year and a half ago. He said that the relative had issued threats and only last Sunday afternoon, the woman’s brother who lives in Canada had called saying he was a millionaire and he could come and “finish” them off and get away. Ramana said that it was suspicious that the call came and then the blaze occurred.
He said that no one had seen the perpetrators. Ramana said that the boat, which he captains, was his only source of income. He supports his family and his mother. He reported the matter to the Leonora Police Station and was awaiting the arrival of investigating ranks yesterday afternoon.
He said that he had the boat for less than a year and it was not insured. “It gon affect me big,” he said. “Me nah know if me gon get a boat back or what job me gon get.”
He said that due to its severely burnt state, the vessel could not be repaired. He said that he was a fisherman for 20 years and had never experienced such an incident. “People does come and thief away yuh seine right but nobody nah come and bun you boat,” he said.
