-sack as many as 15 fishing vessels
PIRATES operating off the coast of the Pomeroon River launched a concerted assault on as many as 15 fishing vessels operating in the area between early Friday and Saturday morning. According to the Government Information Agency (GINA), the assault began around  08:00hrs on Friday and ended around the same time yesterday, causing the recently established Maritime Search and Rescue Centre to spring into action, and with the aid of the police and the Coastguard, rescued three persons.
The incident caused Public Works Minister, Mr. Robeson Benn to convene a media briefing at the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD)’s Stabroek office yesterday, where he reported that “the Maritime Administration and Coast Guard received reports this morning of acts of piracy off the coast of the Pomeroon River, going up to an area called Kamwata Beach.
According to those reports, he said, “up to 15 boats with fisher-folk were intercepted by persons who beat them, tied them up and imprisoned them in their boats.” He said it was further reported that the pirates stole the boats engines and other fishing paraphernalia  which are yet to be determined.
“The Maritime Search and Rescue Centre was activated with Harbour Master Skeete, Pilot Tennant and Coast Guard Commander Porter,” Minister Benn said.
“After an evaluation of the situation and contact being made with some boat owners and the police,” he said, “a helicopter mission was flown off today to the area in question, and it was evident that there were sunken boats… Sailors were found adrift in the area east of the mouth of the Pomeroon River.”
Minister Benn said the police went out yesterday morning to search and provide help and are preparing for another such mission with additional resources to attempt to rescue those who were still adrift.
Bharrat Kalicharran, Captain of ‘Ms Davina’, one of the vessels which came under attack, and two others who were onboard were rescued after they were seen from the air by the helicopter mission.
Kalicharran reportedly told GINA that he was attacked by six masked men, two of whom came onto his docks armed with cutlasses, whilst the others remained on the marauding  vessel.
“When we were about 15 knots away, just off the shore of Cozier Village, they ordered us to lie face down on our boats… They tied us up and beat us with cutlasses; before they left, they bruk up we boat,” Kalicharran said.
He also told GINA that he suffered a similar fate in an attack which occurred just over a year ago.
Minister Benn is quoted as saying that whilst the police are not in receipt of all the details, they are nevertheless treating the matter not only as a search-and-rescue operation, but as a criminal attack also.
“The Maritime Rescue Coordinating Centre,” he said, “will continue to receive reports and provide coordinates for rescue attempts, and will continue to lead in the effort to recover those who were affected.  MRCC will also help the police to determine who the perpetrators of this incident were … the police, military and others at the highest level have been informed and are working on the situation.”