By CECILY ASSON Friday, September 18 2009

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David Edwards awaiting the return of his son, Danny....

Four men, including two Icacos fishermen, who have been missing since Sunday after a trip out at sea, are being held hostage in Venezuela.

A ransom demand of US$10,000 has been made for their safe return, a relative of one of the missing men confirmed to Newsday yesterday.

Two of the missing men have so far been identified as Junior Alfred John-Williams, 27, and Danny Edwards, 22, both of Icacos Village, Icacos.

Up to yesterday the identities of the other two men, who police said are “strangers” to the area remain unknown.

The 27-foot fibre glass pirogue “Ronnie” in which the men left on Sunday has not been located either.

The hostages are said to be “safe” as the relative who asked not to be identified told Newsday that he has been in contact with one of the men. He explained: “The men went down Venezuela to do some business, but something went wrong, and they were kidnapped.

The kidnappers are now asking for US$10,000, and we are trying to get it to them.”

We don’t want anything to happen to them — we want them to return safely home, and we hope it will happen this evening (Thursday).”

The calls, according to the relative, have been traced to Venezuela and voices are said to be that of “Spanish speaking persons.”

The men were expected to be released on Wednesday evening, but when a boat from Icacos arrived at Soldado Rock in the Gulf of Paria as planned , none of the hostages were present, and the boat returned to shore, Newsday was further told.

According to a police report, at about 4.10 pm on Sunday, John-Williams, Edwards and the two unidentified men left the Gulf of Paria, Icacos Beach in a 27-foot fishing fibre glass pirogue named “Ronnie” on a fishing expedition. The boat is owned by Ragoonanan “Burroughs” Bhola, 52.

Police said the boat had four large containers of fuel. The four men never returned to Icacos, and a missing persons report was made to the Cedros Police Station.