— following pirate attack that left at least 12 presumed dead

A FISHING vessel monitoring system is being implemented in Suriname in the aftermath of the recent pirate attack on 20 Guyanese fishermen, as that country grapples to regulate its fishing industry, Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan said.

“Suriname’s Minister of Justice and Police, Stuart Getrouw, noted that there will be immediate setting up of regulations for the fisheries sector which is dominated by Guyanese… what is being proposed is that checkpoints be created to know who went out to fish, actual persons going into the boats, from where they went out, their identities and so on,” Ramjattan said at a press conference Wednesday at his Brickdam, Georgetown office.

Following the attack in which 12 fishermen are still missing, Surinamese police have appealed to persons to go to them with their identification cards or passports if they believe their relatives are victims.

Ramjattan said in Suriname, the fishing business was closed after the massacre.

Fishermen there, he said, are scared but the Suriname government is expected to re-open the shores during this month after ministerial decisions are made.

He explained that Guyana and Suriname are collaborating with intelligence- sharing and police reports, while various discussions on issues of security are being discussed, even as he laments the vicious attack.

“This major disaster, catastrophe, massacre with almost entirely Guyanese involvement, whether victims or perpetrators… has halted us into major despair because here it is we were doing very well. We are also hoping that there are still survivors,” Ramjattan said.

He said the government will assist relatives of the victims as much as it can with moral, psychological and burial services. These were also offered by the Suriname authorities.

The Suriname police have asked for time to ensure that DNA tests are conducted in order to hand over the right bodies to relatives.

PATIENCE REQUIRED

“I have to call back a number of relatives to relate that patience is required,” Ramjattan said, as he noted that the coast guards and security forces of both sides are working to ensure a speedy investigation, along with implementing systems to deal with piracy.

Acting Commissioner of Police David Ramnarine said in Guyana, three persons are in custody assisting with investigations.

“It is not definitive at this point and time to the nature of any involvement or the extent of any involvement at this point and time. We did receive some information from two fishermen, which seems to have placed one of the persons in custody at a certain area in Suriname prior to the departure of the fishermen, and a certain conversation would have unfolded, but that is as far as we have at this point and time, based on the fact that we are in constant contact with our legal adviser,” Ramnarine said.

He said the victims gave only ‘call names’ of the persons who were involved and currently 15 persons are in custody in Suriname as investigations continue.

The acting top cop also confirmed that the motive of the murders stemmed from retaliation by one of the persons in custody whose brother was allegedly gunned down in a drive-by shooting in Suriname on March 30, 2018.

A man identified as “Crackhead” has since confessed to killing at least five of the fishermen after being taken into custody by Surinamese law-enforcement officials last Sunday.

The suspect was initially pointed out by survivors as being among alleged notorious pirates Sinbad, Bolo and Dick.

According to information, during interrogation, “Crackhead” initially admitted to killing one of the fisherman, but under intense questioning, confessed to killing five of them.

Fishermen in Paramaribo, Suriname, captured and handed over the suspect to local police officials.

Reports indicate that “Crackhead” was reportedly tied up and made to lie on the ground until police arrived on the scene.

The Suriname police have arrested over 12 persons as they intensify their investigation into the attack.

Those arrested include an immediate family member of Somnauth Manohar, the man who was gunned down in Suriname on March 30.

Manohar’s brother, Nakool Manohar called “Fyah,” was also arrested in Guyana and remains in police custody.

Of the 15 persons who are in police custody in Suriname, 10 are said to have direct involvement in the April 27 attack, one of the deadliest pirate attacks off the Atlantic Coast in recent times.

Ramnarine confirmed that there was a second attack on May 3 on a crew of four, in which the captain was missing but his crew members were rescued.

Based on the information received, Ramnarine said it appears that the gang that carried out the first attack also carried out the second one.