– meets fisherfolks
PRESIDENT Donald Ramotar, at very short notice yesterday, summoned a meeting with persons who were either directly or indirectly affected by the recent pirate attack and mishap in the Pomeroon River, promising intervention at the level of his government. President Ramotar pledged that his administration will provide some form of assistance that will see the affected fishermen return to continue plying their trade.
The president told the fishermen he is still awaiting a final report on the incident from the Guyana Police Force and the Guyana Defence Force regarding the incidents. This report is expected to be completed shortly.
The pirate attack occurred on the morning of Friday February 3, off the coast of the Pomeroon River and joined the list of a spate of attacks which left 15 fishing boats with a total crew of 19 men being attacked, robbed, beaten, bound by pirates who, after their rampage, damaged some of the fishing boats.
The delegation of fisherfolks who were led by Region Two Member of Parliament, Cornel Damon to yesterday’s meeting with the President were assured that the necessary interventions will be guided by assessments of reports being received on a daily basis.
The group that met the President represented the shareholders of the damaged vessels but, according to Daman, about 60 persons including employees have been affected by the criminal act committed.
“I just start from December, I didn’t get any licence to register any name,” said a distraught Nalini Dindyal, owner of the ‘Nalini D 2’.
After hearing about the ordeal, Nalini said she immediately contacted the Charity Police Station, informing them that some of the crew were already rescued and had received medical attention.
Prior to yesterday’s meeting with the President, the delegation spoke to the media where they recounted their stories of what transpired.
Bharrat Kalicharran, Captain of ‘Ms Daviena’ said he was attacked by six masked men, who ordered his crew to lie face down in their boats after which two of the six men came onto his boat and began beating and robbing them.
“We were just off the shore of Cozier Village when we noticed a boat approaching…when the boat was about 15 knots away, these men started yelling at us and ordering us to lie face down…two men came on the boat armed with cutlasses, tied us, beat us and stole our engine, the fish that we had caught and our valuables…before they left, they used their boats to ram the boat we were in thereby destroying our boats…I experienced a similar incident about a year ago,” Kalicharran said.
Berkley Marks, Captain of one of the vessels said “the pirates come onboard my vessel armed with cutlasses and pieces of wood…they ordered everyone to lie face down but I was trying to make out their faces…they began to beat me about the body with the wood and fired chops with their cutlasses to my head, back and feet…after being rescued I received medical attention at the Hospital in Charity,” Marks said.
Some of the fishermen lamented that this is not the first time they have been attacked by pirates and those who have been in the trade for more than twenty years believe their livelihoods are at stake.
They, however, said they are optimistic that this situation will be adequately addressed so that they can return to their only means of livelihood.
The fishermen were reassured that a plan is being devised by the Maritime Administration (MARAD) along with the Guyana Police Force and the Guyana Defence Force to ensure their safety at sea. The fishermen are also calling for firearm licenses to carry weapons while at sea.
Minister of Public Works, Robeson Benn, on Saturday last, after reports of the incident surfaced, activated the Maritime Rescue Coordinating Centre (MRCC) which comprised the Coast Guard, that worked in conjunction with the police to conduct the search and rescue and commence investigations into the incident, after which a helicopter reconnaissance flew over the area where three persons were later rescued.
The MRCC in continuing its efforts later provided the coordinates of their mission to the police and coast guard teams who were dispatched over land, and on Sunday morning last, the team rescued another 15 fisherfolk who were drifting in the River after the attack.
Over the next few days, the MRCC will be conducting visits to the area of the incident in continuing their investigations into the pirate attacks.