A GROUP of East Coast Demerara fishermen have been traumatised by a high-seas gunpoint robbery in the Atlantic Ocean in the vicinity of Waini on Saturday last.

An owner of one of the three fishing boats involved in the mishap, speaking yesterday on the basis of anonymity, told this publication that it is very difficult to replace the two 48-horsepower engines, two Global Positioning System (GPS) and three cell phones that had been taken from them.

Last Saturday, the three fishing boats were in the Region 1 Barima/Waini) area closest to the Pomeroon River, when a small red boat, equipped with an engine with two masked gunmen, came up alongside the fishing boats and demanded that the crew take off their engines, GPS and other valuables, and hand same over to them.

Although the crewmen were not hurt, the incident has had a troubling effect on them, but since fishing is their livelihood, they will return to fish as soon as they can replace their engines, which cost $960,000 each, and the GPS, each valued at $23,000.

After the incident, the boats were left to drift, but were rescued by passing fishing boats, and the crewmen were taken to Charity Police Station, where a complaint was lodged.

The men were told that the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Coast Guard would also assist in the probe.

One of the fishing boat owners yesterday told this publication that they cannot go back to fish because it is impossible to raise money to purchase engines for their boats. They are therefore seeking assistance in this regard.

The pirates, however, were not interested in their catch, because after they had been given the boat engines, they sped off.

The police are reportedly investigating the incident.

(By Michel Outridge)