A group of fishermen yesterday met with Minister of Agriculture Zulfikar Mustapha in the Upper Corentyne area, where they complained that they are being harassed on a daily basis by the Surinamese patrol in the Corentyne River.
For years Guyana’s fishers in the Corentyne area have been securing licences from Suriname to operate. However, they reported that even with the licences they are being harassed.
They identified a member of the Surinamese patrol by name and alleged that they have to pay him in the waters to continue fishing in the Corentyne River despite having their licences. “He does demand money and if you pay him you allowed to fish never mind if your licence expire or if not,” one of the fishers told the minister/