Senior Reporter
Police Commissioner Allister Guevarro says the kidnapping of couple Derek and Claribel Tardieu is being treated with the highest priority.
Police reported that Tardieu, 70, a businessman, and his 47-year-old wife were snatched from their Blanchette Bay, Monos Island home on Saturday night.
A family friend received a distressing voice note from a cellphone with a Colombian registration number informing them of the kidnapping around 9.44 pm.
The message, which came from Derek Tardieu, said: “Dey have meh and want 2.5 million US for meh release.”
A video of the couple was circulated on social media and showed what appeared to be a gun pointed at Tardieu’s head and hand with a grenade under his head. The suspects holding the weapons to Tardieu’s head were not seen in the video, however.
Tardieu is heard appealing to a relative in English and Spanish, asking for money for the release of himself and his wife.
When Guardian Media visited Tardieu Marina in Chaguaramas yesterday, most of the tenants did not want to speak.
Leslie Cato, who said he knew Tardieu for 20 years, said the news of the kidnapping left the marina shocked and angry, as Tardieu is a “good man.” He appealed to the kidnappers to release him.
“I hope they set him free. I hope they set him free and he come home safe,’’ Cato said.
Another tenant, Renuka Ramjattan, said she spoke with Tardieu on Saturday, hours before he was snatched.
“He was telling me, ‘Girl when yuh reach a certain speed on this boat, it does run real nice.’ He was playing he lil music and thing and he went out the road and do he business. When he come back, he take up he boat and went,” Ramjattan said.
She added, “When I come this morning and I hear that, I was shocked. That real bad. That man is a good man. That real disturbing.”
She smiled when asked to recall her interaction with him, saying she fondly called him “young boy,” as she found he looked great for his age.
She last saw him around 1 pm on Saturday, adding he would normally dock his boat, which he sometimes slept on, near the vessel she works on.
She too called on the kidnappers to release him.
“The right thing to do is to release the man. Oh God, all yuh, if all yuh want the money, give him the money, give them the money and just release the man without doing him anything or he family. That is the most important thing right now.”
Contacted yesterday, CoP Guevarro, in a WhatsApp response to Guardian Media, said the matter is now at a sensitive stage, and it would not be prudent to reveal operational details publicly.
“What I can assure is that several of our specialised units are actively engaged in this investigation. I urge members of the public who have any information to please co-operate with the TTPS so as to ensure that Mr Tardieu is returned safely to his family.”
Guevarro added, “Kidnapping for ransom will be met with decisive action, and the TTPS remains fully committed to protecting citizens and bringing perpetrators to justice.”
Tardieu’s kidnapping follows the abduction of Luke Rampersad, 25, who escaped his abductors after he was snatched and beaten on Saturday.
Police reported that Rampersad, of Main Street, Dow Village, California, was abducted at around 8 pm on Saturday.
He was taken by two men known to him and forced into a waiting vehicle.
Rampersad, a grass cutter, managed to escape his abductors and returned home at around 4 am on Sunday.
Two suspects were subsequently arrested.
Last month, Guevarro said there was no resurgence of kidnappings for ransom after livestock farmer Vishnu Lalla was kidnapped and murdered.
PC Jason Beetam, 28, of Temple Street, Beaucarro Road, Freeport, and Govindra Lackram, 26, of Basta Hall Village, Couva, were jointly charged with Lalla’s murder.
Lalla was abducted while tending to his animals near his home on November 8.
His vehicle was seen speeding away from the area, and later that day, a relative received a $100,000 ransom demand for his release.
The burnt shell of Lalla’s vehicle was found in Esperanza. Lalla’s body was found in a forested area off Brechin Castle Road in Couva around 9.30 pm the same day he was kidnapped.
Vishnu Lalla — farmer
Kidnapped November 8, 2025, body found later that evening despite ransom payment
Daniel Kawall - CAL pilot
Kidnapped September 3, 2025; rescued by police September 7, 2025
Ryan Singh (18) & Keeran Latchman (21)
Kidnapped July 21, 2025; escaped July 23, 2025
Jankie Satie Karim - mother of one
Kidnapped July 13, 2025; rescued July 21, 2025
Kerry Von Adams - businessman
Kidnapped July 5; body found July 7 despite ransom payment
Aaliyah Lee Kissoon
Kidnapped mid-March 2025; rescued by police
