Suriname piracy attack can affect yacht rally
Two of the biggest yachts to grace the rally in 2014
Two of the biggest yachts to grace the rally in 2014

THE organisers of the annual Nereid Yacht Rally might exclude Guyana from the list of destinations this year because of the gruesome pirate attack in Suriname which claimed the lives of several Guyanese fishermen in April.

Although it has not yet been confirmed, Minister of Business, Dominic Gaskin has said that the organisers of the activity had raised concerns about safety and security of Guyana’s waters.

It has been more than four months since what is described as one of the deadliest piracy attacks, within recent times, occurred. The incident gained international attention and placed tremendous pressure on the law enforcement authorities of both Guyana and Suriname.

“It is not confirmed so there is still a bit of hope that it can be salvaged, so I must have a discussion with the persons who are actively involved in organising the activity locally,” he said in an invited comment.

The rally has been a major tourism activity over the years and in order to persuade the organisers to come, the minister believes that there needs to be less sensationalism. While he is aware that news must be reported, Gaskin suggested that the media should refrain from practising speculative reporting and get the facts.

“We cannot stop crime from happening but we can be responsible when reporting on it,” said the minister. The Nereid’s Rally was the brain child of Italian sailor, David Matelicani, who had met Kit Nascimento, his wife Gem, owners of Hurakabra River Resort whilst sailing up the Essequibo River in 2011. Nascimento had been actively involved in working to promote Guyana as a hurricane-free international yachting destination and Matelicani saw the potential.

With the full support of the Ministry of Tourism in Guyana and the Mayor of Saint Laurent in French Guiana, Matelicani launched the first Rally sailing from Trinidad & Tobago in September 2013. The rallies have successfully grown each year to become a feature on Guyana’s tourism calendar.

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