Missing for 25 days: Fisherman’s family pleads for his safe return

For 25 agonising days, the family of Ortoire fisherman Theodore “Beast” Ganpat has waited, feared, and prayed for his safe return. The 68-year-old went missing on July 23, after leaving his home. Since then, the trail has gone cold.

Now, his loved ones are living not only with grief but with terror, after threats were reportedly sent to them on social media by one of the men involved in his disappearance.

Ganpat, a diabetic who has had a toe amputated and cannot drive or stand for long periods, according to his family, left his Ortoire home under the pretext of retrieving his van. He was picked up in front of his house by two men, one a mechanic from Agostini Village, Rio Claro, and has not been seen or heard from since.

“Today marks 25 days without my husband, which has left me grieving, crying and unstable at night. I am missing my husband and pray to God for his safe return. I really miss you, Beast,” his wife said. The atmosphere in their home is heavy with sorrow; daughters and grandchildren sit with hands under their chins, tears streaming down their faces, a silent testimony to the loving father and husband Ganpat was.

Relatives said Ganpat was more than a fisherman and electrician. His siblings said he was an exceptional maths teacher, tutoring his children and grandchildren in the evenings.

“We all missed him for the punishments we got during lesson time, but this taught us discipline and helped us succeed in Maths,” they recalled.

While police detained the mechanic briefly, he was released. The family has commended law enforcement but insist more must be done to bring those responsible to justice.

Hayley Noel, a former TTPS officer and Ganpat’s son-in-law, returned from New York to assist in the search. He has met with senior police officers in the Eastern Division, Sangre Grande, and Mayaro, urging them to question the mechanic directly.

“All the police have to do is take up the mechanic who took him from his Ortoire home and ask where they left my father-in-law and where he is now. It’s a very simple matter when people can come out and tell the truth. It is sad, very sad,” Noel said.

Ganpat’s daughter, Vicky Ganpat-Noel, made a heartfelt plea to the public, “Please, come forward—only you can end our agony and pain. Two persons who took my dad remain questionable. I don’t want to disclose their names. I know you all have parents and would not want this for yourself. I am begging you.”

A granddaughter added, “Granddad told me he was going with the mechanic to do some business, and from that day we have not heard from him or seen him. We have no clue where he is. We need help. We are in a lot of pain and grieving. All we are asking for is help finding our granddad.”

The family has expressed gratitude to Shamsudeen Ayube, captain of the Hunters’ Search and Rescue Team, for his continuous efforts. They are now appealing to Minister of Homeland Security, Roger Alexander and Commissioner of Police, Allister Guevarro to assist in bringing closure. Authorities said the location of Ganpat’s van may hold the key to finding him.