Ten fishermen from the Corentyne area yesterday positively identified one man who they said has in the past been attacking them at sea.
The fishermen were called by ranks of the Criminal Investigation Department, Eve Leary, yesterday where the ID parade was held.
All ten of the fishermen who took part in the ID parade yesterday have in the past been attacked by pirates while at sea.
The man who they identified was nabbed by police on Friday last after the fishermen took it upon themselves to do something about the relentless piracy attacks.
The fishermen said they had received information that the man currently in custody was hiding in neighbouring Suriname but recently came back to Guyana where he was caught. The man identified as ‘Berri’ was caught on the Corentyne.
On Friday last seven engines, fishing seines and drums of gasoline belonging to Guyanese fishermen from the Number 66 Fish Complex were recovered in Suriname. Several men were also taken into custody.
And yesterday also fishermen from several villages on the East Coast of Demerara converged at CID headquarters to lend their support.
Following the ID parade statements were taken from several fishermen who were informed that charges would be laid shortly against the suspect.
The fishermen all expressed their disgust over the situation and called for the suspect to be tried in Georgetown. The men said if the matter is taken to Berbice they will get no justice since the known pirates in the area are more often than not placed on bail. One fisherman told Stabroek News when these pirates are placed on bail their lives are at risk.
The fishermen who came out in their numbers said they are frustrated since they are not given the cooperation they need from the police on the Corentyne. “We know is who doing the wuk, sometimes when dem (pirates) hijack we boat and engine dem does call and demand money from we,” one fisherman said. “This thing so overbearing and we (the fishermen) aint gat no other way of meking money dat we does pay dem (pirates) money fuh get back we boats
