-relatives also suspect Guyanese pirates are behind the gruesome attack

As chances of survival of several Guyanese fishermen appear gloomy following Friday night’s piracy attack, relatives of the missing men are calling on the authorities to step in and continue the search in a bid to find their loved ones.

According to the news report in the Surinamese media , the search for the men was called off late Monday night after only one of the four  boats were recovered; the others were allegedly destroyed and sunk by the bandits.

The pirate attack on Friday night on the four boats has left the 16 fishermen feared dead following the attack off De Wiawia Bank, a fishing area in Suriname. Four men survived the ordeal. The fishermen were reportedly chopped about their bodies, struck with bamboo and other objects by the attackers to comply with their as their boats were looted.

Some of the men were tied to anchors, batteries and other heavy objects and thrown overboard as their boats were sunk in the gruesome attack.

It remains how many of the missing 16 fishermen are Guyanese . However, this newspaper understands that a majority of the missing men are Guyanese living in Suriname or Guyanese who ply their trade over in the neighbouring country.

This publication understands that contact was made with Guyana’s Consulate in Suriname by relatives of the men on Monday and the agency was instrumental in sourcing two boats which ventured out to search for the men later that evening. However, relatives of the men are calling for more boats and effort given the amount of time that has already elapsed since the attack.

One of the four survivors Guyanese Darmandew Persaud,  told the Surinamese media that he was tied with an anchor to his neck, beaten and chopped multiple parts of his body and thrown overboard. Persaud stated that the boats carry a five member crew and while he does not want to pronounce, he is doubtful his other crew members could have survived the onslaught at the hand of the pirates.  “They come to the boat and start chopping everyone. Them man say they come to kill, tie anchor to we neck and throw we in the water, them men beat them up really bad,” he said.

Recounting how he was able to survive, Persaud , who has been working the high sea for over 40 years, he said  managed to stay afloat in the water for many hours until daylight when he was able to call out for help from a passing vessel.
He sustained chops about his body including his right hand. He is now worried about the future of his four children who reside in Guyana, since he is now unable to provide for them given his injuries.

Persaud is one many who expressed disappointment at the actions of the Surinamese security forces who have decided to call off the search. He was very vocal and even pointed to Guyanese being at the heart of the fishing industry in Suriname.

“We build this fishing industry here, without Guyanese fishing is nothing here, them nah get no care for us but we have private boats going out and continue the search because we  know if was one of us we would expect them to come look for we. We need help though cause we can’t do it alone,” he pleaded.

Speaking with the Guyana Chronicle, Bhagyashree Singh, who is the daughter- in- law of missing fishermen Ramesh Sanchara , said the family has been at their wits end since Saturday .

She travelled to the neighboring country early Tuesday morning with other family members from the East Coast of Demerara in search of answers. “We are not giving up. He is a hard worker and we know he would fight for his life,” she said of Sanchara.

She said that the fishermen are tough and endure untold hardships at sea and according to her, more effort is needed from the Guyanese authorities to step in and continue the search for the men.

Sanchara has been living between Guyana and Suriname for the past five years as he finds it more profitable in fish in the neighbouring country.

Meanwhile, Joan Murray-Parris, the mother of one the youngest victim Glendon Jones 21, was unable to control her tears as pleaded for the search to continue.

“My son is young he has his whole life ahead of him, the whole dock filled up here with people and them call off the search saying they can’t survive we just want know for sure,” she told reporters.

Jones two Thursdays ago left for the fishing journey where he joined the rest of his crew in Paramaribo, Suriname’s capital. He was described as someone who loved being on the sea such that if his regular boat does not make a trip after days he jumps on another boat and goes out.

His sister Jennel Jones is calling on the Guyanese authorities to intervene since she feels its Guyanese that were involved in the attack on their fellow countrymen.

Another missing Guyanese only identified as Ravi called ‘Brickmouth’ is feared dead. He was in the same boat as Persaud, the “Romina.” He was reportedly bounded by the hands and a battery was tied to his feet and he was later thrown overboard after suffering several chops about his body.

The last major piracy attack in Guyana was in May 2017. One of the major challenges has always been to pin point the exact location of the attack to rescue survivors and given the strong current and the wide ocean it makes it almost impossible to determine where the survivors may have drifted.

The authorities have been calling for the installation of radio sets on all fishing vessels as well as location beacons that can help solve this problem but many boat owners and operators are reluctant to purchase the costly equipment.