Despite two recent mishaps on the Corentyne River which claimed the lives of several persons through the continuing `backtrack’ speedboat operations between Guyana and Suriname, nothing is being done by those in authority to end this culture.

Questioned on the issue yesterday, Acting Police Commissioner Henry Greene said that until the river border issue between Guyana and Suriname was settled, it would be difficult for the police to intervene.

Asked what role local law enforcement can play in dealing with the illegal speedboat service, he responded, “That’s a very technical question. You know that the speedboat service has to do with the Corentyne River. I would have a difficulty dealing with that at this point in time.”

Greene was speaking to reporters at the conclusion of the Junior Officers’ Course No. 18 yesterday. He said he knew that the government was looking at the issue in terms of the use of that river and “until that is settled it would be difficult for us the police to take a front role in that because those boats are licensed on the other side”.

It was subsequently pointed out to Greene that the boat operators are Guyanese who dock their vessels on our shores and openly advertise their illegal business. He then claimed that when people are caught in that operation they are dealt with.

Asked about the possibility of the operators on the Guyana side being stopped, he said that was a question for the government.

Last Friday, a boat carrying eight persons capsized in the Corentyne River after the propeller became entangled with fishing seines. Six people, including the Guyanese owner/captain of the vessel, Roy Ramdass drowned. The boat was on its way to Guyana.

Last year February, two women drowned after the vessel they were in capsized while they were travelling ‘backtrack’ from Corriverton to Suriname. The boat was owned by a Surinamese known only as `Amit’.
Following that incident, Minister of Home Affairs Clement Rohee had urged Guyanese travelling to Suriname to use the legal Corentyne crossing.