–thanks to collaboration between Guyana, Suriname law enforcement

JOINT exercises involving Guyana and Suriname law enforcement authorities have paid off tremendously, in that just one instance of piracy has been reported so far for the year.
That’s according to Crime Chief, Wendell Blanhum, who reported on Monday that the figure at reference is a significant improvement on what obtained in the last five years, with 2012 alone having as many as 22 reported cases of local fishermen being attacked while trawling in the open waters off Guyana.
Addressing a forum to launch the police Christmas Policing Plan at Eve Leary, Blanhum said since the resuscitation of the anti-piracy task force, the Guyana Police Force (GPF) has embarked on a number of counter-piracy initiatives, one of which is the deployment of what is called a floating patrol base.
And, in order to cement closer ties with Surinamese law enforcement, Blanhum said members of the GPF earlier this year paid a visit to neighbouring Dutch colony to discuss important issues relating to crimes affecting both countries, inclusive of piracy.
The Guyana delegation, he said, included himself, Commissioner of Police, Seelall Persaud; Assistant Commissioner ‘Operations’, Christopher Griffith; Deputy Chief Immigration Officer, Dale Alves; Head of Special Branch, Lindon Denny; and Commander of ‘B’ Division, Assistant Commissioner, Ian Amsterdam.
That of Suriname comprised Commissioner Agnes Daniels, and Commander of the District of Nickerie, Widejai Kumar Oedit, along with twelve other senior police officers.
Among issues discussed by the two sides was the sharing of information/intelligence and other assistance regarding organised crime, inclusive of drug and human trafficking, money laundering, as well as piracy.
As a result of that meeting, Blanhum said, a number of decisions were taken to enhance collaboration between the two police organisations, one of which was the establishment of points of contact to pursue specific matters. Another was that they would meet annually, and that each country would take turns in hosting that meeting.
Blanhum said the purpose of the visit was to strengthen the relationship with Suriname which is testimony in the arrest and handing over of the notorious fugitive and drug baron, Barry Dataram.
Back in June, five men accused of high-seas piracy, were charged with murder.
The men are accused of murdering Hemchand Sukdeo, 46, a father of five of No. 55 Village, Corentyne, Berbice during an act of piracy.
The pirates, all fishermen and from the Corentyne, are Ramchan Latchman, 23, a father of two of Number 65 Village; Ganesh Naidoo, 41, of Number 71 Village; Ramesh Singh, aged 53 and a father of two of Liverpool Village; Stephen Leon Leacock, 19, of Number 77 Village; and Leon Sammy, 29, father of one of Number 75 Village.
They’re all accused of committing the dastardly act between May 27 and 28 on the Corentyne River.