Masked pirates struck several miles from the mouth of the Pomeroon River in a brazen afternoon attack on Tuesday leaving those operating three fishing vessels counting their losses, but thankful to have escaped uninjured.
The five-man gang armed with a single handgun carried out the attacks within a two-hour period, escaping with gasoline, an engine and groceries. In one case, clearly upset that they had to leave empty- handed, the men threw the boat engine overboard.
Seelall Persaud
Crime Chief Seelall Persaud yesterday told this newspaper that no one has yet been held in connection with the incidents, but police are conducting investigations.
According to the reports reaching this newspaper, around 4 pm on Tuesday Latchman Narine and a crew of three were aboard their fishing boat some three miles from the river mouth, when the masked pirates attacked them.
Brandishing a gun, the robbers relieved the captain and crew of their engine, a quantity of groceries and gasoline.
The men were left drifting but were later rescued by a passing vessel.
The matter was reported to the police the following day.
About an hour later, the pirates struck again some distance away. They confronted Hardial Sukhraj and a crew member aboard their vessel and after conducting a search and making demands, threw the boat engine overboard.
The engine was subsequently recovered and a report was made to the police.
Then around 5.30 pm on Tuesday, the same group of men attacked a fishing vessel captained by Joseph Mantoos, again not far from the mouth of the Pomeroon River.
There was one crew member with Mantoos at the time.
Before escaping, the men collected five gallons of gasoline and a cellular phone. They then damaged the boat engine.
All three of the boat captains reside in the Essequibo area, this newspaper was told.
This piracy attack comes on the heels of another that occurred on Monday night in the Corentyne River during which fishermen were robbed of Yamaha outboard engines, gasoline and other items.
Fours boats were involved and the attacks were carried out by pirates armed with a handgun and a piece of wood.
A man believed to be involved in those attacks was arrested by the police.
Piracy, particularly in the Pomeroon and Berbice areas, has long been a plague on fishers and an area of concern for the authorities.
However, it is the fishermen who operate in the Berbice area that have suffered more as a result of the high seas attacks.
what a shame why do people have to suffer in this
way, the fishermen is trying to make a liveing
to support their familey may god help my guyanies
people, when will these things stop.
Sra Eloise,we might not live to see these crimes stop.
Folks not to worry I see nothsinglal is on the case.
mr. persaud check to see if they from somalia maybe they have
extended their territory to safer waters??
hahahahahahaha you killing me bro.
Yes Turbo,
its a possibility that they from Somalia, and looking fu de white lady and she two sistas, crystal and christine…..they does come across the border from Venezuela, after leaving Columbia.
Gasoline, groceries, a cell phone, please. These pirates should fly (or sail) to Somalia where the pirates there haul in millions in US money robbing big ass ships in international waters. Just don’t mess with US ships. BTW where is the Guyana navy or coast guard? Where’s protection for these poor fishermen?
Sky, they’re on probation…ha ha .This is a new trend and needs to be stamped out immediately before it gets out of control..Guyanese learn quick uh…
the coast guard should do their jobs and protect
these fisher men
Piracy is escalating because authorities are too lenient, or cannot cope with these bandits.The death sentence should be handed down to stop this crime.
It is not that they are too lenient Caesar the government and Jagdeo in particular prefers to spend the people’s money on the propaganda machinery Chronicle, GINA, Mirror, NCN and the radio station which is more than 700 Million yearly rather than spend this monies on law enforcement.
Do you know how many police patrol boats 700 Million can purchase?
This government’s priorities is backwards.
A classic example of this is how the prioritize where monies are spent, notice the reactionary force at play now trying to deal with flooding left right and center? it had to take several major floods and massive criticisms from OXFAM and all other quarters before they would do anything to address it.
“BTW where is the Guyana navy or coast guard? Where’s protection for these poor fishermen?” These are good questions but you should be aware that those same coast quards cannot be everywhere at the same time. Similarly, the police cannot be everywhere at the same time. We have eroded any respect there was for our fellow human being that it is no longer accorded second thought when it comes to robbing, killing, etc. We have degenerated into a wild west situation where the gangs rob, plunder and kill at will. We probabaly need the Sackett brothers.
That happens when the poor gets frostrated in any society it turns to anymeans necessary for survival if the system is not in place for the uplifment of the poor in any society crime increases like what is happening in Guyana today ,instead of filling jails and not providing a means of detering the underprivilige the situation will get worse in time to come.
please G.P.F. DO SOMETHING BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE
FIND THESE PIRATES, AND THE Coast guard must do their
job you all don,t waist the people tax money
the goverment should get some more
patrol boats