— Guyanese & Surinamese authorities collaborating in investigations
UNOFFICIAL reports yesterday indicate that Surinamese officials have arrested several persons believed to be a part of the recent spate of piracy attacks, especially on the Corentyne coast, during which a number of Guyanese fishermen were brutally attacked and robbed. “It is unofficial, but it was disclosed that the Surinamese authorities have arrested some people suspected to be pirates, and the ship they were in had six engines. These are believed to be those of the missing ships in last Friday’s attack,”  one source told the Chronicle yesterday.
The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Coast Guard and the Guyana Police Force (GPF) Marine Department are collaborating with their counterparts in Suriname to solve the latest incident of piracy in the Corentyne River.
Reports out of Berbice indicated that five Guyanese fishing boats and their crew members were robbed by a group of heavily armed pirates on Friday last.
A victim, Nacho Manohar of No. 66 Village, Corentyne, Berbice, reported that two of the five boats belonged to him, and they encountered the pirates while fishing in the Corentyne River in close proximity to where they were relieved of their engines, catch, seines, gasoline and other valuables and left adrift.
The attacks were carried out on the evening of February 25th at about 19:00 hrs and lasted until 3:00 hrs the next morning.
All the affected Guyanese fishermen are reportedly from Corentyne, Berbice and, up to yesterday afternoon, were in Suriname assisting with investigations.
While the men are suffering from a state of shock, they are said to be in good condition and without major injuries.