Latest update April 6th, 2025 6:33 AM
Latest News
- High Court bars GRA from seizing Team Mohamed’s luxury vehicles
- Oil spill will hit Guyana’s shores before capping stack arrives to plug leak
- UN says 100 children killed or injured in Gaza every day since war resumed
- Guyana received US$605M oil money in first quarter of 2025
- ‘Tariff war’ spells grave danger for the Region – CARICOM Chair Mottley
Police yet to arrest boat captain caught on camera stealing prawns from Pritipaul Singh Investment Inc.
Kaieteur News- A boat captain and his crew are yet to be arrested after they were caught on camera two weeks ago, stealing almost a ton (1500lbs) of prawns from Pritipaul Singh Investment Inc. (PSI).
Boat captain Nolan Paton reportedly admitted in a signed statement to stealing from Pritipaul.
The company has terminated its contract with the boat captain identified as Nolan Paton after he admitted in a signed statement to selling out significant portions of the company’s production from a trawler he was in charge of.
PSI, in a statement, said that the theft was discovered on March 14 last, when Paton and his crew returned from sea.
The PSI trawler reportedly left for sea on March 6 to harvest seabob shrimp offshore Guyana.
“During this trip, the captain also collected prawns and fish, commonly referred to as bycatch”, the company said while adding that upon the vessel’s return, its officials, as per standard procedure, reviewed footage from security cameras onboard.
The company’s CEO, Pritipaul Singh, said camera review is always done before the captain and his crew are paid.
It was during that review from Paton’s vessel that the company discovered that he has been stealing from PSI.
“Video footage confirms that the products were moved from the vessel’s icebox through the wheelhouse to the bow of the vessel”, the company stated.
The company learnt too that the stolen products are being sold to individuals who resell them along the East Coast of Demerara (ECD), specifically LBI and Montrose.
Pritipaul Investment Inc. had reported the matter to the Providence Police Station but no arrest has been made.
“…Instead, the company’s official was advised to report the matter in the district where the incident occurred,” the company stated before calling on police and the relevant authorities to swiftly prosecute the matter.
“The company is now calling on the relevant authorities, including the police, coast guard, Agriculture Ministry, and other senior officials, to intervene and prosecute these perpetrators based on the video evidence provided,” the company said.
Singh noted that boat captains and their crew have no reason to steal from the company because they get paid per production (per pound).
Apart from good pay, the company also covers fuel costs and food for each captain and crew.
He said sometimes the company would run a loss, barely making enough money to cover costs, just to ensure workers are paid in full. This reportedly is not the first time employees have stolen from PSI.
The company noted that in addition to low catches, stealing is causing an extra strain on its business.
“These challenges have forced competitors, such as Noble House, to exit the seafood business,” PSI said before iterating, “We hope that the relevant authorities will assist in apprehending these individuals and preventing similar incidents from recurring”.
Similar Articles
THE BLUNT OF THE DAY
Sports
Features/Columnists
This must not be our hour of humiliation
Peeping Tom… Kaieteur News- There are moments in the history of nations when fate lays before them a choice not of... more
The U.S. “Joining” the Commonwealth: an unreasonable expectation
By Sir Ronald Sanders Kaieteur News- Recent media stories have suggested that King Charles III could “invite” the United... more
Weekend Cartoon
