Georgetown: Twelve Guyanese fishermen and their two vessels have been detained in Venezuela for the past week despite calls from the Guyana Government for their release.
Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hugh Todd dispatched a note of protest to the Venezuela authorities.
Todd summoned the Chargé d’ Affaires of the Embassy of Venezuela, Mr. Moses Chavez, to transfer the protest note from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Guyana to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Venezuela.
The protest note firmly condemned the illegal detention of the captains and crews of the Guyanese registered fishing vessels, the Lady Nayera and the Sea Wolf, and calls for their immediate release.
On Thursday, January 21, 2021, the two vessels were intercepted by Venezuelan naval vessel Commandante Hugo Chavez, while operating off the coast of Waini Point, in Guyana’s waters.
Todd also met with Prem Kumar Lallbachan and Trevor Daniels, owners of the detained Guyanese registered fishing vessels. The Foreign Minister pledged to remain in contact with the owners and share updates as they occur.
Below is a statement by the Government of Canada
Canada supports Guyana in calling for the immediate release of two Guyanese vessels that were detained by the Maduro regime. We repeat our call for International law to be respected.
