Port-of-Spain – The funeral for murdered fisherman Hemraj ‘Alex’ Sooknanan took place last Thursday, with Couva North Member of Parliament Ramona Ramdial criticising the government over its response to the tragedy. She referred to the deaths as a “mass murder” and “national tragedy” while calling for justice.
Said Ramdial: “This entire community of Orange Valley has been steeped into mourning for seven of our sons, fathers, brothers. Our boys here, all seven, were making an honest dollar. They were working hard, very diligent, very disciplined, and go out there and put their lives at risk to try and make an honest dollar,” she said.
Ramdial said Commissioner of Police Gary Griffith indicated police had suspects in custody, and investigations were continuing.
“I want to tell you keep the faith alive. I know that you feel that the very institutions that are there to protect us have failed us, and in this instance I want to agree that they failed our fishermen,” she said.
She urged members of the public to stop glorifying gangsters and criminals.
“We need to unite against fighting this crime surge. We need to stop glorifying the gangsters and the criminals. We need to stop having our children look up to these men and women as though they are heroes. You need to question, where did they get their wealth. This is a mass murder,” she said.
Meanwhile, two of four persons arrested in relation to the fatal attack appeared before a Couva magistrate on Friday to face the charges of robbery with violence.
Police said Loyola John, 18, of Ste Madeleine and Mya Bowrin, 19, of Gasparillo, appeared in court charged with seven counts of robbery. They were both granted bail. However, one accused was released while the other remained in custody pending the verification of documents.
Police said two men, ages 25 and 27, were also charged for robbery with violence. Investigators are continuing with inquiries, and the men are expected to be charged with murder.
The four were arrested in Sea Lots hours after the robbery at sea during an exercise by officers of the Inter Agency Task Force and the Port-of-Spain Division.
Five of fishermen who were thrown overboard drowned, two remain missing, and three survived the ordeal.

Port-of-Spain – Mayaro Member of Parliament Rushton Paray has criticised the government's treatment of the families of the murdered Carli Bay fishermen, saying that a lack of public comfort shows a lack of care.
Paray said the government showed a “lack of empathy” towards the fishermen’s families. He said he resides in a fishing community, interacting with fishermen within his constituency of Mayaro, and as a result, “deep regrets and condolences to the families of the victims”.
Paray said the government has shown no regard for agriculture, and that no government official neither publicly comforted nor reassured the families of the murdered fishermen the perpetrators would be brought to justice “proves that they just do not care about the lives of farmers or fisher folk”.
Said Paray: “This heinous act at Carli Bay has profound implications for Trinidad and Tobago’s entire fishing industry which is already struggling.” Additionally, Paray noted, “With more than 300 murders in 210 days, the crime rate is also contributing to an increase in unemployment.” He said the crime rate continues to strangle many small businesses in the country.
“Many small business owners of restaurants, bars and supermarkets now live in constant fear, forcing them to either decrease their hours of trading or close altogether. This means more unemployment and less economic activities,” Paray said.
He also chastised the Minister of Trade and Industry Paula Gopee-Scoon for “failing to deal with the issue”.
Said Paray: “Our spiralling crime rate will negatively affect our ability to attract foreign investment, or allow local businesses to grow and expand. However, Minister Gopee-Scoon’s absolute silence on this matter is an indictment on her role and responsibility in securing the interest of the business community.”

Port-of-Spain – A candlelight vigil and march in Couva, central Trinidad, drew together hundreds of villagers and fishermen from the Orange Valley community last Friday night. Carrying candles and burning sticks, mourning villagers and participants from the surrounding community wore T-shirts with photos of the seven fishermen who did not survive when local pirates threw them overboard.
President of the Orange Valley Fishing Association Christopher John said only a few of the area’s one or two fishermen are now venturing out since they have families to feed. However, the majority are reluctant to fish at night at the Gulf of Paria location where the fishermen were robbed and thrown overboard.
Said John: “A lot of people just want to find some way to move on. The brutal attack on the fishermen has caused many to put their boats up for sale. It is very difficult for them right now, since it was their only source of income.”
Out of the ten men thrown overboard, three reached shore, while seven died. Two bodies are still unaccounted for, and last week the search for their remains was called off. Despite the termination of the search, John said relatives are still seeking closure. Relatives of Jason Trevor Baptiste, one of the missing men, held a sorrowful, parting service on Sunday at the Orange Valley jetty.
Last week’s vigil was led by the Orange Valley Fishing Association, the Carli Bay Fishing Association, and the Independent Fishing Union of Trinidad and Tobago. It began at Chin's Supermarket, Carli Bay Road, and finished at Orange Valley junction. Large banners were erected showing photos of the dead men.