Fisherman, Gansran Ramdat has suffered a string of robberies over the years and on Wednesday night an armed gang robbed one of his boats at the Montrose foreshore. He says it is time government provides security for persons operating in the industry.
“I want you to tell Minister Robert Persaud and Minister (Clement) Rohee that we need protection. We ain’t got nobody representing we and the attacks just keep coming,” a frustrated Ramdat told Stabroek News yesterday.
Four armed men paddled out to where Ramdat’s coastal cargo boat was docked around 10 pm on Wednesday and attacked the watchman, Manraj Ramlochan. The bandits dealt Ramlochan a few blows about the body, bound him with rope and locked him away in the bathroom on the boat.
Ramdat called “Alfred” of Third Street, Montrose East Coast Demerara said the men practically spent the whole night on the boat after stealing nearly every item he had onboard. They were unable to paddle out back until the tide came in, he said, noting that this was early yesterday morning.
Ramdat lost three water pumps; a generator; welding machine; a radio set; a compass; tool kits; water drums and gas bottles among other items. Ramlochan would guard the boat from 5 pm to 6 am when it is docked at the foreshore and often, he is there alone.
The incident tramautised Ramlochan whose hands were swollen from being tied up for hours, but he remains in Ramdat’s employ. Ramlochan had recounted that the men wore no masks and were young.
Ramdat said too that he had no money to put any security arrangements in place and called on the ministers of Agriculture and Home Affairs to address the concerns in the fishing industry saying that he personally has grievances to air. “I would like them to come and visit me; let us talk. Let us discuss what has been happening and see what can be done about security,” he added.
It was the first time that Ramdat’s cargo boat was attacked, but he told this newspaper that his fishing boats have been attacked in the past. He said that previously, he would lose engines among other things and after several reports to the authorities, one case was tried in court and a man was jailed.
He was not optimistic about this recent incident being investigated promptly since according to him, an officer simply took his report, “close he book and that was that”. Ramdat said the attitude of the authorities has not always been encouraging and he stressed that the situation ought to be addressed at the level of government.
The fisherman said the police seemed more interested in pursuing matters concerning illegal fuel in the industry and vigorously pursue those reports.
He said that the Guyana Energy Agency also aggressively pursued those reports while reports of them being robbed and attacked are treated, “anyhow”.
