HALT PIRACY
A GROUP of fisherfolk from East Berbice, the East Coast and East Bank of Demerara sought an audience with President Donald Ramotar yesterday with demands for justice and security following the recent spate of pirate attacks.
Included in the group were victims of the pirate attack on 15 boats in the Pomeroon River on February 3 which ended with fishermen being beaten, bound, robbed and abandoned at sea in sunken vessels.
A broad-based discussion on the best way forward was held during yesterday’s meeting that also included Minister of Public Works Robeson Benn and Minister within the Ministry of Agriculture Alli Baksh.
Although acknowledging that curbing the issue of piracy at sea is challenging, several proposals were made including heightened policing at sea and a helicopter reconnaissance.
After reports of the incident surfaced, Minister Benn activated the Maritime Rescue Coordinating Centre (MRCC), a unit comprising a joint effort by the coast guard, and the police to conduct the search and rescue and commence investigations into the incident. The intervention led to the rescue of three persons.
President Ramotar had met some of the victims of the attack on February 7 and had promised intervention at the level of the Cabinet and assured yesterday that no stone will be left unturned to “put an end to this lawless activity.”
His assurance came with a request for the fisherfolk to cooperate with the various agencies.
In an invited comment to the Government Information Agency (GINA), President Ramotar said, “We are putting a response in place, a response to what is taking place and I hope that this will be implemented immediately because this thing (piracy) we have to stamp it out immediately,” President Ramotar said.
The issue of firearms was also brought to the fore during the meeting as the fishermen spoke of reprisal during an attack and, in this regard, an urgent need for expeditiousness in the review of applications made for such weapons.
President Ramotar lent an ear to the requests expressed but noted that it is an issue that requires careful examination and conveyed to the fisherfolk that it would be a careless act if “firearms are handed over the counter” at random.
Some requested interventions in the release of boat engines that have been seized pending court cases but, given the law, the fishermen were told that government’s hands are tied when it comes to litigious issues.
Meanwhile, over the next few days, the MRCC will continue visits to the Pomeroon in continuing their investigations into the pirate attacks.