Chairman of the Corentyne Fishermen’s Co-operative Society Parmeshwar Jainarine yesterday recommended compensation and protection for victims after pirate attacks.
Jainarine was at the time testifying at a public hearing hosted by the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) into the fatal pirate attacks in which over a dozen fishermen were killed off the coast of Suriname last year.
The CoI, which was established by President David Granger, is being led by Dr. Rishee Thakur, who has been mandated to inquire into the circumstances surrounding the attacks.
On April 27th, 2018, four boats, carrying a total of 20 persons, were attacked off the coast of Suriname.
The perpetrators, reported to have been armed with guns and cutlasses, chopped and beat the fishermen before robbing them. Some of the men were ordered to jump overboard with their injuries, while others were thrown into the water with batteries strapped to their legs. Four men, who survived the attack, swam until they were rescued by passing vessels. Two weeks later, another survivor was found.
Testifying at the hearing, which was held at the Number 68 Primary School, Jainarine recommended compensation for boat owners, who often suffer millions of dollars in losses as a result of attacks. He said a boat costs an average of $1.8 million to $2 million, an engine costs over $1 million, an ice box costs over $350,000, four barrels of fuel per trip on average $240,000, and a seine costs $3.3 million. He said most of these items are often either stolen or destroyed during an attack.
Jainarine also noted that officials should offer protection to the fishermen who have survived the attack, while noting that many of them are afraid to testify whenever accused pirates, who are often fishermen themselves, are put on trial, and he suggested the possibility of having the fishermen testify in camera as a solution. He also stressed the need for speedier trials.
Additionally, Jainarine stated that fishermen need more protection while out at sea. He said often fishermen do not receive justice since most times despite immediately reporting an attack to the Guyana Police Force, they are told the police cannot do anything due to the jurisdiction. This is due to attacks taking place in Suriname’s waters. As a result, he said licences have to be sourced from the Surinamese.
He also lamented that in most cases, accused pirates are charged with robbery or armed robbery and after getting short sentences of just about two to three years, they return to the sea and terrorise the persons who testified against them. He said perpetrators should be given more serious charges, with lengthy sentences for their crimes.
Meanwhile, Jainarine also spoke about what he believes is one of the root causes of piracy—substance abuse among fishermen. He opined that presently almost 70% of fishermen are either abusing drugs or alcohol. He said after becoming addicted, they often end up owing their suppliers. He also said some fisher folk, after being out at sea for a long while and not getting the desired catch, would then turn to robbing others.
After yesterday’s hearing, Dr. Thakur told Stabroek News that persons are fearful about coming forward to testify. However, he said they are moving ahead since they have two months to make recommendations to President Granger, who he noted called the attacks a “massacre.”
Furthermore, he said while the CoI was set up as a result of those specific attacks, he is hoping to get to the root cause in order to make recommendations to possibly end the attacks on Guyanese fisher folk.
He noted that it is likely that an extension may be required, as the Commission is expected to be heading over to Suriname as well.
The public hearings will continue tomorrow, when a fisherman is expected to testify.
Those feared dead after the attacks have been identified as Tilaknauth Mohabir, 50, also known as ‘Kai’; Ganesh Beharry; Ralph Anthony Couchman, 19, also known as ‘Burnham’; Ramesh Sancharra, 48; Glenroy Jones, 21; Ramnarine Singh; Bharat Heeralall, also known as “Record,” 49; Sunil, known as Poddock; Mahesh Sarjoo, 35; Rajkumar Bissessar; Randy Burnette; and Olenski Maxwell.
