– in light of deadly pirate attack on Guyanese fishers

PUBLIC Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan and three senior police officers on Saturday flew to neighbouring Suriname to meet with security officials there following the recent deadly pirate attack on Guyanese fishermen.

Minister Ramjattan’s team, which includes the deputy crime chief and deputy commander of ‘B’ Division is expected to return to Guyana on Tuesday.

Police in a statement said local law-enforcement authorities have been collaborating with their Surinamese counterparts following the deadly pirate attack on four fishing boats containing 20 fishermen.

The Immigration Department of the police force through the office of the commissioner of police has expedited the processing of seven passport applications of Guyanese nationals who are relatives of the missing fishermen allegedly attacked by the pirates.

Police said information thus far has indicated that apart from the four victims who reported the attack to Suriname authorities, three bodies have been recovered.

Twelve fishermen remain missing. The missing include Ganesh Beharry, Tilaknauth Mohabir, 50, also known as ‘Kai’; Ralph Anthony Couchman, 19, also known as ‘Burnham’; Ramesh Sancharra, 48; Glenroy Jones, 21; Ramnarine Singh; Bharat Heeralall also known as “Record”, 49; Sunil known as Poddock, Rajkumar Bissessar and Mahesh Sarjoo, 35.

Based on information provided by the police authorities in Suriname, three men are in custody, as investigations continue here.

Five of the initial 20 fishermen have so far emerged alive, while four have been discovered dead. On Friday, the Suriname police invited relatives of the missing fishermen to visit the department Kapitale Delicten at Havenlaan Zuid Number1 and take along identification documents, including ID cards and passports in a bid to ascertain the identities of the men.

President David Granger on Thursday called the incident a massacre and announced that a day of mourning will be formally observed for the men who were killed.