Plenty of talk about piracy but too little action to curb it

Dear Editor,

I refer to an article which appeared in the Saturday June 27 edition of the Stabroek News captioned ‘US$4M security support from China to be adjusted.’ Among the areas to be addressed is piracy. I wish to advise that a document titled ‘Strategy for the Conduct of Effective Antipiracy Patrols in the Territorial Sea and Rivers of the Republic of Guyana’ was submitted to the then Ministry of Home Affairs in February, 2013. This document was accepted and acted upon.

The document detailed the area of the territorial sea as well as the ten main waterways which provide access to the mainland from the Atlantic Ocean. The entire coast from Corentyne in the east to Point Playa in the west was divided into specific areas of responsibility for various police divisions. Further, a detailed list of assets considered necessary to efficiently and effectively conduct maritime operations in the territorial sea and rivers was submitted.

These included properly outfitted vessels, communication equipment and safety and emergency equipment.

It was made abundantly clear that regardless of equipment acquired for the Marine Section of the Guyana Police Force, policemen cannot be expected to conduct maritime operations unless they are first trained in seamanship and nautical knowledge, after which they must embark on special maritime operations and sea training.

These recommendations were all accepted after which the training of twelve policemen commenced in July 2013 and lasted until April 2014. Of the twelve participants eight successfully completed the courses, one emigrated during the course, one did not present himself for the examination and two were unsuccessful. One 500 HP 42’ x 15’ x 5’ aluminum hull twin screw territorial sea patrol boat powered by two Detroit Diesel inboard marine engines capable of achieving 25 knots, and outfitted with radar, GPS, VHF communication radio, echo sounder and EPIRB (Emergency Positioning Indicating Beacon) and fully equipped with safety and emergency equipment was bought from the USA and shipped to Guyana in July 2014.

This vessel was US Coast Guard inspected and certified one week before it was identified as being suitable for a fledgling Marine Police Section.

However for whatever reason the required sea training was never done. It is however mandatory that sea training be completed and the necessary sea time acquired before the ranks will be considered as being eligible to sit national examinations and be competent to conduct maritime operations at sea.

At this point I wish to refer to an excerpt from the strategy document which stated: “Together, the territorial sea and inland waterways constitute quite a large area of responsibility for the Guyana Marine Police Section to control. However the need to exercise some amount of control is very evident, which cannot be achieved without the resources to do so.

The use of communication equipment, Global Positioning Systems and other recommendations emanating from various quarters such as the need for fishermen to report to the authorities whenever they are putting to sea, or to have their vessels registered are all very important, but none of these recommendations, either singly or collectively could prevent piracy in the territorial sea without the presence of surface craft in the general area.” This view I still maintain.

I note that these same old recommendations which will not achieve the desired result without regular active sea patrols, coming full circle again. In relation to piracy in the Corentyne River my recommendation was and still is that the two states must come to some sort of agreement to embark on joint patrols. I also note that consideration is being given to the arming of fisherfolk. My humble opinion is this is not the way to go, as I envisage multiple possible problems arising as a result of this course of action.

My recommendation for assistance from China would be in the form of equipment such as radar to be erected at strategic points along the coast using their expertise to operationalise; various types of marine electronic equipment, communication equipment, safety equipment, emergency equipment and if possible small territorial sea patrol craft suitable for our territory. Guyana has experienced former Coast Guard officers who were trained in maritime operations in the United Kingdom, Canada, USA and Brazil; these officers know the Guyana coast like the palm of their hand, and can be used to conduct not only anti-piracy, but also anti-contraband, search and rescue, fisheries protection and armed board and search training for marine policemen and personnel from other agencies. There is also the Matpal Marine Institute with fully accredited Guyanese lecturers presently housed at Critchlow Labour College; it is a satellite of the Caribbean Maritime Institute based in Jamaica, which is “white

listed” by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO). This training facility offers several courses for seamen and issues worldwide recognised certification to successful candidates.

There has been plenty of talk over the years about piracy on our coast and rivers, but too little action to curb this scourge.

 

Yours faithfully,
Rouchie E W Adams