-as fisherfolk and ministers discuss other interventions
GOVERNMENT,  in light of the recent piracy attack which occurred off the coast of the Pomeroon River and saw 15 fishing boats with a combined crew of 19 being beaten, robbed, tied and left adrift, continues its interventions by meeting with fisherfolk to ascertain the level and type of additional assistance it can render to fishermen. Fisherfolk, on Friday last, met with a team comprising Minister of Agriculture Dr. Leslie Ramsammy and Minister of Public Works Robeson Benn in the conference room of the Ministry of Agriculture.
President Donald Ramotar met, the previous day, with some of the fishermen who were attacked in the Pomeroon, after which he assured that his Government was in the process of putting an immediate  response in place in the wake of the piracy attack.
The main issues raised by fishermen at Friday’s meeting were  the dilapidated conditions of wharves, issuing of firearms to fishermen, the response time by the security forces to reports and equipping of the Coast Guard and police for anti-piracy patrols.
Minister Ramsammy said whilst it is understood that the act of piracy is a law and order issue, his ministry will commit to working closer with the fisherfolk to render assistance where necessary as the fishing industry contributes to the agricultural sector.
“This problem of piracy is a law and order issue which impacts on agriculture…agencies have tried and are trying to assist fisherfolk…the President has agreed that this matter will be discussed with the defence board…the anti-piracy aspect of this will be dealt with by the security forces…the Ministry of Agriculture will facilitate things to be done for fisherfolk,” Minister Ramsammy said.
“I believe that mechanisms like the fishing fund can be something fishermen pursue more diligently as it will enable them to have ready access to funds to aid in anti-piracy campaigns…whilst the government may try to help at times, the onus is on fishermen to organise themselves in a manner that will aid the development of their industry,” Minister Ramsammy said.
Minister Benn said the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) will double its efforts in ensuring the vessels that depart ports either for fishing expeditions or otherwise are outfitted with the necessary safety equipment and a manifest, given to MARAD officers.
“We had said this before and will continue to say it again, MARAD will be enforcing the laws…every departing vessel will have to ensure certain safety mechanisms are in place such as the GPS, and a satellite phone…persons will also have to submit to MARAD a list of the names, contact numbers and addresses of the crew as in times of distress the authorities will have knowledge who set sail when and the family members to be contacted,” Minister Benn said.
He committed to having MARAD’s engineers visit the wharves at Rosignol and Meadow Bank, East Bank Demerara to assess the situation, after which rehabilitative works will be executed.
It was established from Friday’s meeting that fisherfolk will form themselves into groups and a cooperative society which will liaise with the ministry to press issues of concern. This will also facilitate the resuscitation of an anti-piracy committee.
The February 3 to 4 attacks of the 15 fishing boats off the coast of the Pomeroon River saw 19 crew members suffering losses at the hands of pirates. Since then government has made a number of interventions and hosted consultations with various groups of fishermen to ascertain the type and level of intervention that government can render as part of its anti-piracy campaign.
Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr Roger Luncheon, addressing media operatives at a post-Cabinet briefing on Wednesday last, said the issue of appropriate marine communication was raised and addressed by Cabinet and, as such, noted that more inputs from law enforcement officers are needed.
“With a renewed focus of the recapitalisation, the re-entry into serviceability of the Bell 412 helicopter and the Cessna aircraft that was abandoned, both land and sea surveillance would become a fixed part of the air course mandate,” he said.