The pirogue that five missing Cedros fishermen was using had gone out to sea well within Venezuelan territory.
That’s according to Minister of National Security, Fitzgerald Hinds. As he responded to a question in the House of Representatives on Friday, Minister Hinds said the caretaker of the pirogue that the men were using reported to the Cedros police that the vessel did not go to its scheduled location.
The Minister was asked to provide an update on the ongoing efforts of the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard and other rescue agencies in the search for the fishermen who have been missing at sea since Sunday, February 25th.
The Minister said searches had been conducted by fellow fishermen on the South Coast. He added that the Coast Guard placed focus on the Gulf of Paria and along the maritime border leading towards the Grand Boca.
The Minister said venturing into the Delta region to fish or conduct any other type of activity should be avoided. He reminded that the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard cannot enter Venezuelan territorial waters since that is in breach of maritime law.