Pirates last Thursday intercepted a fishing vessel moored in the Berbice River and robbed the four-member crew of their engine, water pump and valuables including money before beating them with a cutlass.
The fishermen who were rescued several hours later by a passing boat are thanking the Almighty that they are alive but said that despite their fears they have to return to the waterways because that is their only means of earning a livelihood.
The boat was attacked around 8:30 am and the fishermen are clueless as to the name of the area they were in at the time.
The matter was subsequently reported to the police but to date no one has been held or any of the stolen items recovered.
Captain of the Ronita One, Toney, told Stabroek News yesterday that around 8:30 am, a big boat, came up alongside them and two men jumped over. One was armed with a cutlass and the other a gun, Toney said adding that he and his crew were immediately ordered to lie flat in the boat.
He said that one of the men then instructed them to take out their engine and he and another complied with the instruction. Under the watchful eyes of the men, his other two crew members assisted them to lift it into the pirates’ boat.
As soon as the engine was in the other boat, the men were beaten about their bodies with a cutlass. While this assault did not warrant hospitalization, the men were left in intense pain.
Toney said that they had been fishing in that area for sometime now and this is the first time they were attacked.
He said that after the men left they drifted for a few hours before being rescued.
“I am scared yes but that is my job. I got to do it because I got to look after my family”, the man said, the fear evident in his voice as he spoke with this newspaper.
Deryck Chandan, like his captain, expressed his fear over last Thursday’s incident but vowed to return to sea.
Recalling what had occurred, he said that the men who had earlier robbed another fishing crew, approached their vessel asking for fish and fish glue and whether they had any navigation equipment.
The man stated that they said no to all the questions and then the pirates just jumped on board and started beating them up.
He told this newspaper that after taking the equipment from the boat, the pirates robbed him of 200 Suriname dollars which is around $14, 000 Guyana currency and his wristwatch.
He said that the money was given to him to take back for his neighbour. Chandan was badly beaten and still has numerous marks about his body.
Concerned over piracy
The owner of the vessel Niroajmie Kurmiah yesterday expressed her concerns over what she says is the escalating incidents of piracy.
She is particularly concerned since this is not the first time that one of her vessels has been attacked.
Kurmiah said that back in 2005, her boats were attacked and she lost three engines and then in 2006 she lost another engine.
The woman said that the bandits in this latest incident beat the captain and his crew mercilessly before making off with articles including a new Yamaha engine.
She said it was bought during the latter part of last year and had only worked on three trips before the attack.
Speaking on the earlier attacks on her vessels, the businesswoman said that reports were made but the culprits were never caught.
She said in one instance one of the engines was found but nothing came out of that matter.
“I don’t know why I am being targeted so. This is the seventh robbery in four years and I have suffered tremendously as a result of them”, she said.
Kurmiah told this newspaper that her vessels would go out to sea every two weeks and spend a few days. When this latest attack occurred, she said, the vessel had only been at sea for a few days.
“I am fed up man. I don’t know what to do. This thing will affect my business bad because I can’t afford to buy an engine now. The stolen engine cost me about $776,000”, the woman said with frustration evident in her voice.
Asked what she plans to do seeing that she has suffered so much all ready, the woman told this newspaper that she has no choice but to continue as this is the only work she knows and it is the only way that she knows how to support her family.
The woman said that fishermen and captains will be meeting with the Minister of Agriculture today and she will attend so that she could raise her concerns.
She is hopeful that those in authority could put some sort of measure in place to tackle piracy.
During the latter part of last year, dozens of fishing vessels were attacked and robbed by pirates. There were suspicions that some of the pirates were operating out of Suriname. (Zoisa Fraser)
