A search and rescue mission was underway yesterday for three fishermen after their Noble House Seafoods trawler capsized on Saturday morning some 18 miles off the Mahaicony Coast.
The Ministry of Public Works last night said that an independent investigating team has been established to probe the incident.
Missing are Captain of the vessel, Harold Anthony Damon, 45; Ronald Burton, 78; both of Agricola and Winston Sam, 46, of McDoom, East Bank Demerara (EBD).
Noble House could not be contacted yesterday by Stabroek News for comment.
The three men along with Vincent Dazzell, another crewman from Agricola and the lone survivor to date were aboard a sea bob trawler owned by Noble House Seafoods when the mishap occurred on Saturday morning just after 6.
Information reaching Stabroek News stated that the vessel began taking in water and emergency calls were made to Noble House Seafoods by the captain for assistance but they got no reply.
The Ministry of Public Works last night said it wished to assure all concerned that all available resources of the state to aid in this search and rescue exercise will be fully utilized. The private sector is also engaged in this ongoing operation.
An independent panel was established comprising representatives of the Ministry of Public Works, the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD), the GDF Coast Guard, the Guyana Police Force Marine Unit, and the Transport and Habours Department.
“We are very concerned, and share the anxiety and pain of the family members and colleagues of the missing men,” the Ministry said before noting that the Search and Rescue Opera-tion Centre was immediately activated upon notification of this incident. Vessels and personnel, including divers have been deployed, it added.
While details of the incident remain unclear, family members of the missing men said while the mishap occurred on Saturday, it was only yesterday morning a report was made by the company to the relevant authorities.
As it is, the aggrieved family members said that they have not received any solid information from the company. They stated that after receiving the news they visited the seafood production company’s headquarters at Eccles for answers. They related that if family members did not behave in a disorderly manner they would not have gotten any confirmation of the boating mishap.
Tonszadel Beckles-Damon, wife of the boat captain yesterday told Stabroek News that after receiving the news of the mishap, she and two other relatives were making their way to the police station. On their way, she said they caught up with Dazzell who related what transpired.
Dazzell, she said, stated that just after 6 am her husband woke up the crew members and instructed that they check the boat. The checks revealed that the engine room and other parts of the boat were taking in water.
This prompted the Captain to radio the company and lodge a report of what was transpiring. As the boat began to take in more water, Dazzell related that they were instructed to lower the lifeboat and get in. However, he told Beckles-Damon that her husband jumped back on to the vessel in a bid to retrieve his phone.
It is unclear what occurred after that.
“He tell me the boat drop and he went down and drank water and catch cramp all and blacked out but he was rescued by a fishing boat and they search for about three hours before returning to shore…when they meet, he said the men who rescued him gave him a bus fare and he come and tell the company,” Beckles-Damon recounted.
She pointed out that while Dazzell said that he returned during the course of Saturday afternoon, it was around minutes to 7 pm, they learnt of the tragedy.
“I couldn’t believe, if we didn’t push our body, if we didn’t go to them we would not have known what happened. We would have stayed home and keep thinking everything okay… they are not aware of what happen how is this possible?” the Captain’s wife questioned. She further asked if the company had received the report why didn’t it dispatch another vessel to offer assistance.
“You are aware of this situation if there was no connection after a certain time doesn’t that tell you something is wrong? Something was definitely wrong and nobody was there to help them,” she posited as she sought to fight back tears.
The captain’s father explained to this newspaper that he learnt of the mishap when his daughter ran crying to him.
“I see she run coming, crying. I ask `wha happen yuh get robbed, yuh get shot?’ But she said no and tell me how Anthony dead. I said `Anthony dead?’ and she said I say wa you mean…” the father recounted. He added that upon receiving the news he went to the company’s headquarters in a bid to gather further information and after waiting for 45 mins they were able to speak with the Manager, identified as Mr Richard.
Subsequently, he said he went to the police station and the Coast Guard Base at Ruimveldt but neither was aware of the situation.
The father explained that from what was related to distraught family members, after the SOS call was made, the captain was instructed to make his way to the nearest shore by the company.
Yesterday morning, before a search crew was dispatched, the elder Damon said they were given a hard time by the police as they kept claiming they had no information. He said that even when the Coast Guard went to collect the survivor, who is a part of the search team, the police did not allow the Coast Guard to do so. The Coast Guard Commander had to visit the station himself to collect Dazzell. The police reportedly informed them that the survivor was being prepared to be escorted to the Sparendaam Police Station to give a statement.
Both the father and Damon’s wife stated that while he is a hard worker, the boats assigned to him were not always suitable for work.
“Many times he does go to sea and you just see he appear in front of you when you find out the boat break down. It happens so often when you see he appear you just know that the boat break down,” the wife stated.
The captain has been working with the company since 2017 and worked with other fish processing companies.
The family of Burton said they did not know he was returning to sea last Sunday until he was about to leave.
“I saw him and he tell me he going to sea and I asked you going again? He said yes, he mekking a quick trip,” his grandaughter Tatiana Niles said. Burton’s family is in a state of shock.
“I saw Anthony sister run coming hollering so I ask `what wrong’ and she said I just hear the boat turn over and only one body survive… we went to every station to check if is true and said they have no reports. We went to Coast Guard nothing, police station nothing…” the granddaughter explained. She pointed out that it is very difficult to believe tragedy would have struck her grandfather since he is a veteran in the business. “Since the age of 15 he is on sea and is now this happen to you is hard to believe…” she stated.
A daughter, Claudine Welch injected that the story does not add up as the survivor gave different versions of the story.
“The story ain’t measuring up… he (Vincent) said `Claudine this thing happen so fast’. He said they went down so fast… you telling me the man that can’t swim is the only survivor among all these men that go to sea…is wha really going on… while we went at Noble House a man pass and tell we y’all family deh calling on the radio and hollering for help that the boat going down,” the daughter added.
She stated that her father was determined to return to sea after being at home for over a year since the arrival of COVID-19. Welch said they told him not to return to sea but he did not adhere to their admonitions.
Over at Sam’s residence, his wife who had pleaded with him not to go to sea was devastated by the news.
His sister-in-law Tiffany Sue-Bobb said Sam, who works as a labourer, decided to make a trip at the request of the captain. It was his second trip at sea.
She related that it was Damon’s father who informed them of the mishap just around 7 on Saturday night.
Minister of Agriculture Zulfikar Mustapha told Stabroek News yesterday that the ministry is concerned about what occurred at sea. He stated that the Department of Fisheries has launched an independent investigation and has been liaising with the company for an understanding of what occurred.
Chief Fisheries Officer Denzel Roberts told Stabroek News yesterday that while they issue fishing licences, MARAD has the responsibility to inspect the boats and determine their fitness for operation.
Roberts said checks will have to be made with MARAD to determine when last the vessel was inspected.
