On Tuesday, 19 Venezuelans appeared before Magistrate Faith McGusty at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court, facing charges linked to the illegal exploitation of resources in Guyana’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
The 19 accused – Raynes Gomez, Jose Francisco Rivas Quidada, Ozar Marcano, Jonathan Trujillo, Luis Angentes, Jose Mata Mata, Denny Rafael Salazar, Davwin Mata Salazar, Edward Jose, Cruz Manuel Deven, Marcano Milian Lopez, Gregorio Antonio, Emanuel Marcano, Ronaldo Thomas, Jesus Harry, Alexandro Fernandes, Johandre Martin, Edgar Fernandes, and Romel Fernandes – are alleged to have engaged in unauthorised activities at sea.
Prosecutors stated that between August 20 and September 5, the defendants were involved in resource extraction approximately 82 miles off the coast of Guyana. They allegedly conducted this operation without a valid licence, a violation of Guyana’s laws governing its EEZ. Adding to the charges, the group is accused of entering Guyana’s coastal waters aboard an unregistered vessel, further exacerbating their legal predicament.
In court, the defendants – many of whom needed the aid of a translator – gave conflicting accounts of their activities. Some stated that they had been fishing in Guyana’s waters for years with proper authorisation. They stated that they were contracted by a company called Rocky Investments, which they believed had obtained the necessary permissions for them to operate in the region. These individuals asserted their innocence, arguing that they were simply following their employer’s directives.
However, not all of the accused maintained the same defence. While several pleaded guilty to the charges, acknowledging their role in the unauthorised activities, others remained steadfast in denying any wrongdoing.
In light of these conflicting statements, Magistrate McGusty ordered further investigations into the matter, aiming to clarify the defendants’ claims and the involvement of Rocky Investments. The court is expected to review evidence, including documentation of any alleged permissions granted to the accused by the company.
The case continued yesterday, with the prosecution intensifying efforts to outline the full extent of the illegal resource exploitation and any violations of Guyana’s maritime laws. Sentencing followed swiftly for those who had plead guilty. Another defendant, Rojas Wilson, appeared in court and echoed the same defence as the others, stated that he had been contracted by Rocky Investment Company to operate along Guyana’s coast. After hearing this, Magistrate McGusty informed Wilson, as well as the other defendants from the previous day, that the fine for such offences typically exceed $10 million. However, she imposed a lesser fine of $300,000 on Wilson, warning that failure to pay would result in a nine-month prison sentence.
The remaining defendants, who appeared via Zoom, were also handed similar fines of $300,000 each, with the same penalty of nine months’ imprisonment if they failed to pay.
The court adjourned the case for the other accused, who are scheduled to appear on October 9, when the final decisions regarding their cases will be made.
