Hunt still on for T&T sailors

More than a week after leaving Tobago on a 29-foot fishing pirogue, the whereabouts of two Trinidadian sailors remain unknown.

Alvin Morgan and Damien Reece of Santa Flora were delivering the vessel, Kampai, commissioned by a British national, to Union Island in St Vincent and the Grenadines.

According to Captain Vallence Rambharat of the Hunters’ Search and Rescue Team, the white and teal vessel departed from Tobago around 1.30 p.m on March 2, with an estimated arrival in Union Island between 5:00 p.m and 6:00 p.m that day. Neither the boat nor the crew reached their destination.

Guardian Media was told that there were unconfirmed sightings of the vessel near Carriacou and Grenada.

The vessel was constructed by a boat manufacturing company in Trinidad for the UK resident to operate in the fishing industry in St Vincent.

Guardian Media understands the boat was collected on March 1, and one of the engines was not functioning correctly when tested, but it was subsequently fixed.

A reliable source explained, “The plan was for Alvin and Damien to pilot the boat to Tobago, get another boat to accompany them to Union Island, which would be their ride back. I was informed on Monday that the boat left Tobago, which I assume travelling to Union Island, where it would be handed over and registered in St Vincent.

“The guys who arrived in Union Island stayed overnight on March 2, but the boat never showed up. All calls and messages went unanswered up to present.”

Caption Rambharat said a report was made to the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard, but to date, there has been no confirmed information regarding the whereabouts of the boat or the men. (Guardian)