FISHING boat captain Michael Ramdeholl was still counting his $2.3M loss yesterday, after a pirate attack on the high seas in the vicinity of Number 43, Corentyne, Berice foreshore, on January 31. The robbery was reported days later, when he drifted ashore at Number 66, Corentyne, aided by a makeshift engine connection.
Michael Ramdeholl, of Lot 17 Duchfour, East Coast Demerara, accompanied by Vishnu Ramdeholl and Paul Singh, both of Hope ,  East Bank Demerara; Rameshdat Kanaya called Rajesh, of Yarrow Dam, Ruimveldt; Martinez John, of St. Lucian Mission, Pomeroon, all fishermen, left Meadow Bank, also in Georgetown in the skipper’s motor vessel.
The 65 feet by nine feet craft, powered by a 48 horse power Yamaha outboard engine, is used by them to fish in the Atlantic Ocean.
But, near Number 43, they were confronted by the masked pirates in a blue, red and black boat, who, on approaching their vessel, fired a shot.
The attackers boarded the ‘Amo’ and dealt the victims several lashes about their bodies and threatened to shoot anyone who did not comply with their demands.
During the hour long ordeal, they were forced to put a quantity of fish, 200 gallons of gasolene, groceries, six life jackets, fish glue, a compass and three heavy duty batteries, among other things in the boat I which the robbers escaped, leaving them to drift at sea.
They drifted until they arrived at the foreshore on the evening on February 2, when a report was made at Skeldon Police Station, Corentyne, too.