THE Ministry of Agriculture, through the Fisheries Department, is robustly working to secure the release of three Guyanese fishermen detained in Suriname for alleged unauthorised fishing in that country.

Subject Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha, told the Guyana Chronicle that he is unsure when the men will be released from custody in Suriname; however, he disclosed that the Fisheries Department has been tasked with providing a report on the situation.

“I asked my fisheries officer to give me a report on the matter; he has to provide me with a report because I understand that they were fishing in Surinamese water without a licence so I have to get a proper briefing,” Mustapha told the Guyana Chronicle on Friday.

He said once the fishermen are released and returned to Guyanese shores, a more extensive report will be provided.
The detained men were identified as Ramesh Ramchand and Mahendra Bissessar of Annandale, East Coast Demerara (ECD) and Troy Tyrell of Lusignan, ECD.
The fishing vessels belonging to the men have been seized.