The Coast Guard is being threatened with legal action concerning the detention of eight Venezuelan crew members who were aboard two cargo vessels which sunk in the Gulf of Paria after being intercepted.
In a pre-action protocol letter sent to the Commanding Officer at Staubles Bay, Chaguaramas on Sunday night, attorney Kelston Pope said his clients who were detained last Friday have been denied their right to an attorney.
The crew who was aboard vessels Frialy and El Cufi were sailing to Trinidad to sell over 4,000 kilogrammes of copper.
However, Coast Guard intercepted the vessels just before they docked at the Cedros Port. The vessels were being conveyed by the Coast Guard to Staubles Bay when they sank 15 Nautical miles west off Point Lisas. Shipping agent and customs broker John Williams said Coast Guard, Customs and Excise and Immigration Department were given the required 24-hour advance notice of the vessel’s arrival, as well as the relevant documents. He said a manifesto was sent to the Coast Guard and Customs informing them that the vessels were transporting copper. Williams said he was perplexed as to why the vessels were intercepted and directed to Staubles Bay, when the Cedros Security Complex houses the relevant agencies, including Immigration Division, Customs and Excise and Coast Guard. In the letter, Pope asked the Coast Guard to provide reasons and any report about why the men were being detained; details regarding the location and circumstances surrounding the sinking of the vessels.
Pope told Guardian he received no response from the Coast Guard and intends to file a habeas corpus. In response to Guardian’s queries, the Coast Guard said the vessels were intercepted because the exportation of copper from Venezuela is illegal.
“The vessels were in possession of copper, with intent to trade. The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela has indicated that the exportation of copper from Venezuela is illegal and therefore Venezuelan vessels with this item aboard will be investigated accordingly,” said Public Affairs Officer Leu Kerron Valere.
The Public Affairs Officer added the vessels were directed to Staubles Bay to “safely and effectively conduct processing and assessment of vessel, documentation and personnel.” However, he could not confirm the reasons why the vessels sank.
He said the men were not detained, but being kept temporarily at Staubles Bay until the arrival of Immigration officials.
The Coast Guard, he said, received no reports of beating or any violent acts toward members of the crew.
“The individuals were given a medical assessment upon arrival with no claims or signs of violence.”
Williams, in response, rubbished the Coast Guard’s reason for intercepting the vessels. “Copper from Venezuela is cleared almost every day here. I want to know then why the government is allowing reputable businesses to bring in and buy copper from Venezuela if it is illegal. There is no prohibition on the importation and sale of copper here.”
In any event, he said this issue was supposed to have been dealt with by Customs and Excise and not the Coast Guard.