A TEAM comprising members of the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) and the Guyana Defence Force Coast Guard will be meeting with the fishermen who were recently attacked by pirates in the Pomeroon River on February 2. Martime Department Harbour Master, Velton Skeete, yesterday said that discussions at this meeting will focus on the way forward with regard to ensuring that fishing, the livelihood of a significant number of people in Guyana, is done in a more protected manner.
The Maritime Department continues to focus on the matter, while the police are gathering information from the rescued men, who are cooperating and providing details of the attack.
All of the fishermen are accounted for. Fifteen were rescued and no lives were lost, but two boats were badly wrecked in the attack.
Nevertheless, another aerial reconnaissance was conducted in the Pomeroon River to determine whether more fishermen were stranded, but none was spotted.
Skeete added that the implementation of the Global Positioning System (GPS) on fishing boats is also being considered, so as to be able to identify the location of fishing crews in the event of an incident such as a pirate attack. This will enable the relevant authorities to respond more promptly and efficiently.
Approximately 15 fishing boats, with a total number of 19 crew men, were attacked between February 3 and 4, off the coast of the Pomeroon River. Later that day, the Maritime Search and Rescue Centre was activated, and with the help of the police and the army coastguard, the centre was able to rescue three persons.
Public Works Minister, Robeson Benn, is calling on anyone with information on the recent pirate activity, or who has suspicions of any illegal activity which may be linked to the latest pirate attack, to contact the nearest police station, the Coast Guard, or the Maritime Administration.