Pirate attacks which have occurred within the last few months

July 24, 2014 – a fishing boat minus its five-man crew, the catch and the seine, washed up at Whim, Corentyne. Ramesh Persaud, his brother Naresh Persaud, Omesh Durhup, Deowmanan Ravindranauth and Prakash all residents of the Corentyne are believed to have been victims of piracy and are all feared dead. Two bodies have since washed up in neighbouring Suriname but relatives are yet to see the remains.

July 9, 2014 – a fishing crew of five was attacked in Suriname waters. The captain Salim Feroze is the only known survivor. The boat washed up at Mahaica a few days later. Three days later the remains of 41-year-old Andrew Gopie, of Annandale, East Coast Demerara was discovered on the foreshore at Mahaicony. Still missing are Vinesh Drunarine called Dinesh or Monkey Brain, 24, of Uitvlugt, West Coast Demerara, and Raymond Gomes, 37, and Chandrapaul Jallim, 19, both of Recht-door-Zee, West Bank Demerara.

April, 2014 – three fishing vessels were attacked in the Corentyne River. The masked pirates who were armed with guns, cutlasses and pieces of wood pounced on the crew members and relieved them of a quantity of fish and fish glue, gasoline and other items. The water bandits also cut their seines and damaged their engines before escaping. The fishers were left to drift until they were rescued by passing fishermen.

February, 2014 – A Guyanese fishing crew in Coronie, Suriname were attacked. The catch, as well as a “cross bar,” valued at $18,000, an engine lead worth $14,500 as well as a battery that cost about $29,000 were taken during the attack.

October 2013 – There has been no sighting of Corentyne fishermen Rakesh Persaud called ‘Pork Soup’ and Rajin Ramsammy, 22, called ‘Kishan,’ who were tied up and tossed overboard by pirates who had attacked their boat and another in the Corentyne River. Seven other fishermen survived the attacks.

September, 2013 – there were a number of reported attacks in the Pomeroon River and the Waini coastal area. Several suspected pirates were later nabbed with the stolen booty during a raid in the North West District.