MOST of us have grown up hearing and reading about pirates of the high seas and characters like ‘Black Beard’ the Pirate. This was indeed the Golden Age of Piracy (1688-1718). In those days Blackbeard was the most notorious pirate in the history of sea-fearing. It was during this era that the very sight of Blackbeard was enough to make most of his victims surrender without a fight. But gone are those days and there are no longer any Blackbeard or his likes, and plunder in the high seas has come to an end.
It is rather strange that in recent years we have seen a somewhat resurgence of the activity, this time in our own waters, although not of the magnitude of piracy known in the days of Blackbeard and other sea-fearers. Now it is mostly a case of Guyanese committing the atrocities of piracy against fellow Guyanese. The activities carried out during a raid at sea might not be as deadly and murderous as in those days, but they are indeed very frightening and nerve-racking, so much so that the activities of the local pirates have captured the attention of the entire nation including that of the Chief Executive.
It has been observed that after a lull in piratical activities, those shameless plunderers of our very peaceful waters have resurfaced, and in the first three months of this year have made their intentions known, when early in February this year, some fifteen fishing boats with fishermen, engines, seines and rations, etc., were attacked by some spineless people who called themselves rovers of the seas.
These so-called pirates carried out their attacks on our defenseless fishermen in the Pomeroon River in the Essequibo region.
We should point out that these attacks are not contained to the Pomeroon River alone, but also on the Corentyne River – the other extreme of Guyana’s waters, where numerous incidents of brutal river attacks were reported. Our local fishermen play a very important role in helping to provide the animal nutrients needed for the healthy lives of our people.
In the process of providing this vital health link with the people, fishing is also their means of survival and that of their families. Giving these people protection, therefore, is not something special, but rather, providing a service to them that they so richly deserve.
Like any other Guyanese, whether productive or not, our fisher-folks are entitled to protection by the state.
We recall that following the most recent vicious attack on fishermen in the Pomeroon River, several rounds of meetings were held between fishermen and the authorities including a ‘heart to heart’ meeting with President Donald Ramotar, who promised to do everything in his power to put an end to this scourge of piracy.
The President was quite emphatic when he told the aggrieved fishermen: “We are putting a response in place, a response to what is taking place and I hope that this will be implemented immediately because of this thing (piracy). We have to stamp it out immediately.”
Pirate attacks against our fishermen are similar in nature. Fishermen are beaten, tied up and robbed of personal effects, also engines, seines and catch. Some fishermen are even left to suffer in battered and sunken boats. Some have even lost their lives in these attacks. These are extremely important matters which demanded urgent attention, and it is with this in view that the people welcome the activities of the Guyana Defence Force which has sought the assistance of the Regional Democratic Council, of Region 2, to carry out pile-driving activities, just off the mouth of the Pomeroon River to anchor an army base in the Atlantic Ocean.
This, beyond any doubt, would be an asset and will certainly enhance security on the seas. Apart from providing safety for our fishermen, the floating base would also serve as a monitoring base for all boats leaving and coming into port. We could only hope for an early end to the pile-driving exercises so that the floating base could be put in place in the Pomeroon River, so that once again our fishermen could ride the waves with confidence.