Fishermen from the Number 66 Fish Complex are frustrated that the piracy situation is “getting out-of-hand” and are convinced that even though they are being attacked in Suriname, it is Guyanese who are committing the crime.
Fifteen boats from the complex were attacked on Sunday afternoon and the crew members were beaten and robbed of a quantity of fish glue, fish, engine coil and leads and items.
Five of the boats were initially missing but yesterday afternoon a rescue team that had gone out in search of the boats with engine parts had located them on the shores of Coroni and the Copenaam area in Suriname.
One fisherman told this newspaper that the crew members recognized the men from their voices and were certain that they were from the Corentyne. He said one of the pirates even threatened them that if they “go and talk anything then ayo gon end up like dem rest [the other fishermen who were killed] and float pun de water.”
His boat was hijacked and the men were severely beaten until they co-operated with the pirates. They fractured a crew member’s hand and he is seeking medical treatment in Suriname.
According to another fisherman, Indarpersaud Rampersaud, the pirates cut his fishing seine and left it in the water. He said they then ordered his captain and crew out of his boat and apparently used it to carry out more attacks.
The pirates shoved the crew into another boat that they had hijacked earlier and the captain of that boat dropped them off at Parama-ribo. Rampersaud’s boat was among the five that were found abandoned in Suri-name. A search will now have to be launched for his seine.
According to a member of the Number 66 Complex, “The pirates choose to commit the offence in Suriname, because if they do it here they would have to face the maximum penalty.”
The member said the fishermen were afraid to go out to sea and “if this continue like this then the complex would be forced to close. The men are afraid to go out at sea and there would be a shortage of fish and the price would go up.”
He said the fishermen were so determined to bring an end to the situation that they had decided to offer a reward of $500,000 for any help persons can provide. He is urging persons to call 338-2328 with any information.
“I think the authorities should change the law to let police officers from Guyana investigate the piracy and bring the perpetrators to justice, even if the incidents occur in Suriname,” the member told Stabroek News.
He said “many times when simple problems occurred among fishermen in Suriname waters, the police would arrest and question them. But when piracy occurs they would just carry out an investigation to an extent and leave it.”
Referring to an incident in 1964 when a logger killed his crew in Suriname waters and was convicted and sentenced to death, he said the same could happen with piracy.
The member said, “There should be a special body set up to investigate piracy and if the authorities take drastic action then the culprits can be behind bars.”
Further, he said, “With all that is happening to the fishermen from this complex we are not hearing anything from the opposition or the human rights groups. They should come out and condemn this act.”(Shabna Ullah)
