Four masked gunmen attacked and robbed the crewmembers of two fishing boats in two separate locations in the Corentyne River and robbed them of an engine, gasoline, fish, fish glue and groceries.
The owner of one of the boats, Omeshchand Dineshchan, told Stabroek News yesterday that the pirates held his workers at gunpoint and stripped his boat of the engine. They also stole two barrels of gasoline, a quantity of fish and fish glue, groceries and knives.
He said the men were left to drift in the river until another boat went to their rescue and they contacted him around 3.30 pm and told him of the incident. Luckily, he said, the men were not hurt.
Dineshchand said the boat went out to sea last Sunday and was expected back on Tuesday. He said this was the sixth time his boat had been attacked within two years and third time his engine had been stolen.
According to him, he is “fed-up with all these attacks and I plan to park up my boat. I don’t have money to invest in this lame business anymore. The other times I would go and buy another engine and start again but this time I cannot afford it.”
Dineshchand of Crabwood Creek also said that it seems as though “there is no protection out there for fishermen.” The man who is also engaged in farming said he intends to invest solely in that business.
The other boat that was attacked belonged to ‘Morris,’ a fisherman from Kilcoy. Reports are that the pirates robbed his boat of gasoline.
Pravinchandra Deodat, Chairman of the Number 66 Fish Port Complex/official of the Berbice Anti-Piracy Committee, told this newspaper that he received reports that the pirates used a red and white boat with a yellow stripe to carry out the attack.
He said the boat was spotted heading for the New Amsterdam area. The police were alerted and a patrol has gone out in search of the boat.
