THE Ministry of Agriculture’s Fisheries Department said it welcomes the apprehension of five suspected pirates and a vessel at Adventure, Corentyne at 6:00 hrs on Sunday last. According to Chairman of the Coop Mr. Indar Rampersaud, the Coop had full support from the Guyana Police Force at Springlands, but he reported to
Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud that the Coast Guard was not supportive since they had to get permission from their superiors to proceed.
The matter has been raised with the Guyana Defence Force, according to a statement yesterday from the Ministry of Agriculture.
Acting on intelligence gathered, the Berbice Anti Piracy Committee suspected five Guyanese men in a boat belonging to a member of the Rosignol Fishermen’s Coop. A small fishing boat was used in the operation when news was received that the suspected boat was at Adventure, Corentyne.
It was reported that the vessel had a large quantity of fish which was suspected to be stolen. The fishes were sold to a blue truck which is unknown to any of the fishers along the Corentyne.
A radio was also found on the boat bearing the mark ‘King’ belonging to Roypen Mothian known as ‘Triggy’, a member of the Upper Corentyne Coop who was hijacked on the 14th of September, 2011.
At present, the boat is moored at the Coop, while three of the men are being held at Number 51 Village Police Station, Corentyne and two of them at Springlands Police Station, while the
engine was lodged at the Springlands Police Station.
Meanwhile, the Guyana Police Force is also investigating reports of the five suspected pirates threatening the lives of members of the Berbice Anti Piracy Committee who were on the operation that led to their capture.
The Minister of Agriculture continues to urge the law enforcement agencies to take tough action and also spoke to the Minister of Fisheries of Suriname on this matter.