Little being done to address piracy, fishermen say

Piracy continues to be an area of concern for fisherfolk and according to Pamashwar Jainarine, the acting chairman of the Upper Corentyne Fishermen’s Coop they are fed up and frustrated over the fact that little is being done to address the problem.

Jainarine who has spent the last 15 years of his life in fishing circles says that it is now time for the government to put measures in place to protect fishermen as is being done in neighbouring Suriname. He said that in addition to firearm licences, the Ministry of Agriculture ought to honour a promise to help them procure satellite radios so that the apparatus already in place can become fully functional.

The bulk of pirate attacks occur in the Corentyne area while there have been some reported cases in the Pomeroon area. The issue of piracy became a hot topic of discussion following an attack in the Corentyne River earlier this month. One fisherman has so far been confirmed dead, three are still missing and one survived.

In a recent interview with this newspaper, Jainarine stated that all fishermen should be licensed to carry firearms to protect themselves. He said that he had raised this issue with the Home Affairs Minister who had told him that they can’t take weapons into Suriname waters.

Jainarine who said that he gave up working on the sea eight years ago and is now the owner of five fishing boats related that in those