A five-man crew was on Tuesday rescued by members of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Coast Guard after they were held hostage aboard their fishing vessel, Ashley 11 by another crew member, who became enraged after smoking marijuana.
The incident occurred some seven miles north of the Berbice River mouth.
According to a statement from the GDF, the Coast Guard contingent based at New Amsterdam went to the area after they were informed of the hostage situation by the Chairman of the Rosignol Fisheries Complex, Bisram Sumwaru.
The contingent, commanded by Sub-Lieutenant David Shamsudeen and Sumwaru boarded the fishing vessel and took command of it.
The statement added that a knife, a cutlass and a four-foot piece of steel pipe were found on the hostage-taker.
It was learnt, the statement added, that the hostage-taker had become enraged after smoking marijuana and had ordered the captain of the vessel to stop fishing and to return to the wharf to sell the catch without telling the owner. The captain refused and a scuffle ensued, resulting in the captain sustaining a broken arm and another crew member being cut over his left eye.
The hostage-taker was later handed over to ranks at the Blairmont Police Station while the captain and the injured crew member were taken to the New Amsterdam Hospital for medical attention.
The Berbice fishermen praised the Coast Guard for their prompt response and assistance, the statement added.
