Body washes ashore

TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO The body of one of the seven fishermen thrown overboard in the Gulf of Paria on Monday night has been found.

It was discovered at daybreak on the coastline in Brickfield, a fishing village south of Carli Bay. The identity of the body was not disclosed. Relatives of the missing have gone to the scene.

Shrotly before midnight on Monday, pirates attacked at least six fishing vessels in the Gulf of Paria off the ports of Carli Bay and Orange Valley. The armed pirates held up the fishermen with guns and robbed them of their boats and engines before throwing them overboard. The pirates are said to be locals. Several were able to swim ashore. Seven could not be found.

The missing were identified as Anand Rampersad, Shiva “Arie” Ramdeo, Brandon Kissoon, Jason “Trevor” Baptiste, Justin Kissoon, Hemraj “Alex” Sooknanan and Leslie Dubulay. The three who made it ashore have been identified as Brian Seemungal, Robbie Jaggernath and Dillon Mendoza. Two of the fishing boats were found drifting at sea.

According to Jassodra Lallack, the mother of missing fisherman Hemraj Sooknanan, 19, he went out to sea on Monday evening. She said late Monday night she was told that there were “bandits” out at sea robbing fishermen of their engines. She said one of the fishermen who made it to shore told her the missing men were thrown overboard. “I don’t know what to do. I’m just praying for good news that they are found alive,” Lallack said.

Shaida Khan, wife of missing fisherman Anand Rampersad, is also hoping for good news and his safe return. Speaking with the Express, boat captain Wayne Bossierre said he had planned to go out to fish on Monday night but changed his mind. He said, “This is not the first