Chelesea Jagdeo, 14, of Hampton Court; Mariel Smith, 17, of Queenstown; and Malinie Naipaul, 14, of Better Hope, all Essequibo villages, were reportedly seen at an abandoned house far down the river on Tuesday afternoon, and being forced into a boat by a group of men early Wednesday morning.

Charity Police said the matter was reported on Wednesday and officers yesterday made checks up to Malborough, a Pomeroon River community some five miles from Charity, but there was no trace of the girls.

An officer said reports that they made connections with a `well-known' family, and were going to Venezuela, were being investigated.

The girls attend the Anna Regina Multilateral School, some 15 miles from Charity where they were seen up to around 16:00 hrs. on Monday.

According to reports, they left the school before the morning session was over.

Chelesea's mother, Cameela Jagdeo, said she visited the school on Monday morning to check on her daughter's academic performance and while leaving the compound around 10:00 hrs, saw Chelesea and her two friends, Mariel and Malinie, also on their way out.

The mother said she asked her daughter where she was going and was told that they were going to collect some "things" at Hampton Court, about four miles away.

The girl said they needed the "things" to use at a modelling show scheduled for this weekend at the school.

Cameela said Chelesea lived with her grandmother at Hampton Court.

However, a school official said the child was a resident at the school dormitory and as far as the authorities are aware no permission was sought, as is mandatory, for her to leave the compound.

According to Cameela, Chelesea's grandmother was not at home on Monday and neighbours said they saw the girl and her two friends and that they had taken off their school uniforms and got dressed in jeans and T-shirts supplied by Chelesea. They subsequently joined a mini-bus proceeding north to Charity.

Jagdeo recalled that at around 14:30 hrs. on Monday, her husband, Chelesea's step-father, saw the three taking a ride with a popular speedboat operator at Charity.

She said he was very upset when he saw Chelesea in the boat and immediately ordered her to get out and go home.

Jagdeo, who lives at Grant Hunter Delight, Upper Pomeroon, said the trio never visited her during Monday, and on Wednesday morning she was visited by Norma Smith, Mariel's mother, who was enquiring about her daughter.

Jagdeo said it was then that she learnt that Chelesea was missing since Monday afternoon and she left immediately with Norma to look for the children at Charity.

They both made reports at the Charity Police Station.

Jagdeo said she was told by several persons at Charity that the girls were taken in a speedboat down the Pomeroon River.

She was also informed that the girls were in an abandoned house far down the river on Tuesday afternoon and were forcefully taken into a boat very early Wednesday morning by a group of men who operate an illegal boat service to Venezuela.

Chelesea and Malinie are in Form Three and Mariel, who is in Form Five, was preparing to sit CXC exams shortly.

Mariel is of Amerindian descent and Malinie and Chelesea are of Indian descent.

Chelesea is about five feet, three inches tall, medium-built and has long hair and fair complexion.

The mothers are appealing to Home Affairs Minister, Mr. Ronald Gajraj, Police Commissioner, Mr. Floyd McDonald and top Police officials in the area to urgently launch an investigation into the disappearance of the girls. - (RAJENDRA PRABHULALL)