The search for the three missing fishermen, who disappeared in Surinamese waters after their boat came under a pirate attack two weeks ago, continues, families said yesterday.
Family members remain skeptical of the boat captain’s story (he is the lone survivor of the attack, so far).
“I have doubts about his story. I can’t understand how the problem happen in Suriname and the boat and Andrew’s body was found in Mahaica,” said Pamela Maikoo, Raymond Gomes’ mother. Gomes is still missing. Last week Thursday, the body of 41-year old Andrew Gopie, of Annandale, East Coast Demerara washed ashore in Mahaicony.
Maikoo said she still has hope to find her son, even though weeks have passed.
The attack was carried out on July 9, nearly two hours after midnight.
The boat was stripped of its cargo and possessions, and set adrift. The captain and crew were thrown overboard, one by one. The captain, Feroze Hack, has since been placed on station bail and is required to visit the Beterverwagting Police Station every day.
But Hack continues to assert his innocence. He said he had done everything to ensure that the families of his crewmen received justice.
He stated further that pirate attacks happen all the time and many fishermen fall victim. He insisted that the police needed to strengthen their systems to protect fishermen at sea and called for there to be more coastguards and patrol units frequenting the waters.
“If this was being done properly everyone might have been able to survive,” he said.
Responding to suspicions aired by family members, he said he is very hurt to be labelled a suspect, but he vowed to respond to everything and to everyone because he understands the pain they are going through.
A police source said Hack’s information seemed credible and the police will continue investigations based on information provided. The police detective said they had no suspicions about the body turning up in Mahaicony because the currents could have caused this.
