– as hearing into deadly 2018 high-seas murder gets underway

By Nafeeza Yahya

AS the Commission of Inquiry (COI) into the deadly April 27 2018 high-seas attack and murders off Suriname knuckled down to business on Monday, it was evident that fear is going to be one of its biggest drawbacks, as many of the fishermen who are willing to talk are reluctant to do so openly for fear of reprisal from the alleged mastermind and his henchmen.

The COI was put together by President David Granger following the deadly murders in Surinamese waters which left some 16 Guyanese fishermen either dead, or so badly wounded they were feared missing and given up for dead.
At the end of it all, just five men survived the horrendous ordeal, while the bodies of three were recovered.

Chairman of the Upper Corentyne Fishermen’s Co-op, Parmeshwar Jainarine
was the first to testify at Monday’s hearing, which was chaired by Dr. Rishie Thakur and held at the Number 68 Primary School.

During his more than two-hour testimony, Jainarine detailed the many challenges Guyanese fishermen now face, particularly since the tragedy, in their quest to seek protection while trawling in mainly Surinamese waters.

He also spoke of the costliness of fishing these days, and the huge losses many trawler owners tend to incur with no guarantees of a recovery, since they don’t have the requisite insurance, and the risk to life and limb they take just to make an honest dollar.

He noted that Guyanese who ply their trade in neighbouring Suriname are subject to the regulations governing the industry of that country, and reiterated calls for protection, preferably that biliteral arrangements be put in place by both Guyana and Suriname, notably in the form of military or police patrol in the area where fishing takes place.

Jainarine said that if Suriname does not want Guyana to do it, members of his organisation have no quarrel with Surinamese Coastguards doing it, as long as they conduct patrols regularly, and not just to ensure that licences are in order, and that vessels are in compliance. He said that a similar arrangement was in place about 15 years ago, when there was an agreement of sorts whereby the Surinamese coastguards used to offer protection.

He also said that one of the reasons persons are afraid to come forward is due to lengthy time it takes for such matters to be tried. He said that one matter he knows of which occurred since 2015 is still engaging the attention of the courts here.
He said that while the Upper Corentyne Fishermen’s Coop has 153 registered vessels, and 56 active members, none of them have any form of insurance, and that it takes as much as in excess of $8M for one vessel to go to sea.

According to Commissioner Thakur, “The President insists that he wants to know who are the authors in this thing, because we are of the view he wasn’t sufficiently convinced that it was simply a matter of tit-for-tat. It may be that, but there is another story to be told there, and he wants to know what that story is; not only to bring to a closure for the families who had to suffer as a result of what occurred, but also as a nation to tell ourselves we can’t allow this to happen; our own citizens doing this to each other.”

He said that among the challenges he encountered while doing his preliminary investigations, was the difficulty posed in policing the river for the fishermen and fear of providing information publicly. He noted that since the COI commenced its work, he himself was able to meet and talk with some 30 to 40 persons.

“People are afraid,” Dr. Thakur said. “I personally met with 30 to 40 boat owners, fishermen, public officials, trying to figure out what they know, how much they know, what can they tell us; what they are willing to say to us. And that has been quite encouraging; that people are prepared to sit with me and speak. But it would seem they are not willing to come forward and openly identify themselves as persons who have concerns and want to say something. They are still fearful.”

Meanwhile, CoI Secretary, Attorney-at-Law Darren Wade told reporters that the hearing will continue for the entire week at the Number 68 Primary, and that members of the public or fishermen who have an interest in the matter are invited to come forward.

“Come in and let us get a take on it; your opinions, what solution you think is best feasible to resolve this issue of Piracy,” he said.
At the end of the week, the team will then head to Suriname for further investigations.