– as Suriname reportedly calls off search for missing fishermen

AS SURINAMESE news agency Actionnieuws reports that the search for the missing fishermen in Friday’s pirate attack has been called off, relatives of the men are calling on the Guyana Government to step in and continue the search in a bid to find them.
According to the news report, the search for the mostly Guyanese fishers was called off late Monday night after only one of the four boats was recovered. The others were allegedly destroyed or sunk.

Speaking with Guyana Chronicle, Bhagyashree Singh, the daughter-in-law of Ramesh Sanchara, 51, one of the missing fishermen, said her family has not received any updated information about the incident.

She travelled to the neighbouring country early Tuesday morning with other family members from the East Coast of Demerara in search of answers.
“We are not giving up. He is a hard worker and we know he would fight for his life.”
She continued that fishermen are tough and endure untold hardship at sea and called on the Guyanese authorities to step in and continue the search.
Sanchara has been living between Guyana and Suriname for the past five years as he finds it more profitable to fish in Suriname. The pirate attack on Friday on four boats has left 16 fishermen feared dead, when their boats numbering four in total, were attacked off De Wiawia Bank, a fishing area in Suriname.

The men were reportedly chopped about their bodies, struck with bamboos and other objects to get them to comply with the demands of the pirates as their boats were looted.
Still after complying, the men were tied to anchors, batteries and other heavy objects and thrown overboard as their boats were destroyed.

SURVIVOR
One of the four survivors, Darmandew Persaud, said he was tied with an anchor to his neck, beaten and chopped multiple times on parts of his body and thrown overboard.
Persaud stated that the boats carry a five-member crew and while he does not want to pronounce, he is doubtful his other crew members could have survived the onslaught at the hand of the pirates.

“They come to the boat and start chopping everyone. Them man say they come to kill, tie anchor to we neck and throw we in the water, them men beat them up really bad.”
Recounting how he was able to survive, Persaud who has been working the high seas for over 40 years, said he managed to stay afloat in the water for many hours until daylight when he spotted a passing vessel and called out for help.
Persaud sustained chops about his body, including his right hand which is now paralysed. He is worried about the future of his children as it seems he will not be unable to provide for them.

Persaud, like many others, are disappointed with the decision by the Surinamese security forces for calling off the search.

KEY PLAYERS
The Guyanese, he said, are the heart of the fishing industry in Suriname.
“We build this fishing industry here, without Guyanese fishing is nothing here, them nah get no care for us but we have private boats going out and continue the search because we know if was one of us we would expect them to come look for we. We need help though cause we can’t do it alone,” he said.
Meanwhile, Joan Murray-Parris, the mother of one the youngest victim Glendon Jones, 21, was unable to control her tears as pleaded for the search to continue.
“My son is young, he has his whole life ahead of him, the whole dock [is] filled up here with people and them call off the search saying they can’t survive, we just want know for sure.”
Jones, two Thursdays ago, left for the fishing journey where he joined the rest of his crew in Paramaribo.

He was described as someone who loves the sea. His sister, Jennel Jones, is also calling on the Guyanese authorities to intervene.
“I’m fearful for my brother, I’m still hoping he’s out there somewhere waiting on help and we need to get the Guyana Government more involved because I believe is people that they (fishermen) know, that is why they kill them, it’s people they bring home to us, as friends. It’s people they drink with that’s why they’re killing them because they know them and if they’re left alive they will talk,” she said.

Another missing Guyanese only identified as Ravi, also called “Brickmouth”, is feared dead. He was in the same boat as Persaud. He was reportedly chopped several times, bounded by the hands and feet, a battery was tied to his neck and was thrown overboard.
It is unclear how many of the 16 missing fishermen are Guyanese but from what the Guyana Chronicle understands, the majority are either Guyanese living in Suriname or Guyanese who ply their trade there.

This publication understands that the Guyanese ambassador to Surname was contacted on Monday and was instrumental in getting two boats to assist in the search on Monday evening; however, the relatives are calling for more boats and effort given the amount of time that has already elapsed since the attack.

The last major piracy attack in Guyana was in May 2017. Authorities have been calling for the installation of radio sets on all fishing vessels, as well as location beacons that can help solve this problem but many boat owners and operators are reluctant to purchase the costly equipment.