Some fisher folk are against a suggestion that they be licensed to carry guns to protect themselves against pirate attacks and have indicated that they would prefer mid-ocean patrols instead, according to Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan.
“I told them that it’s too expensive. The other [alternative] is to arm them and whenever anybody come to harm them they can take care of themselves but a lot of them seem reluctant to do that,” Ramjattan told reporters last Friday shortly after handing over 11 patrol vehicles to the Guyana Police Force.
Ramjattan said patrols could be possible if there is drilling for oil.
“I don’t know what then will be the option until such time as probably when we have oil and we can have patrol boats watching them whilst they are fishing…,” he said.
Meanwhile, Ramjattan indicated that he is in support of the setting up a marine wing to tackle piracy. He pointed out that the issue was raised recently in a letter published in the Stabroek News.
“I like the idea and I would have to speak to that person or read that plan that I understand was there since 2013 and try to implement as much of it as possible,” he said.
Rouchie E W Adams, in a letter which was published in last Friday’s edition, spoke of document titled ‘Strategy for the Conduct of Effective Antipiracy Patrols in the Territorial Sea and Rivers of the Republic of Guyana,’ which was in 2013 submitted to the then Clement Rohee-led Ministry of Home Affairs and accepted.
Adams said it was pointed out that the police will be useless in dealing with maritime operations if not first trained in seamanship and nautical knowledge followed by special maritime operations and sea training.
He also said a US-inspected and certified territorial sea patrol boat was bought after being identified as being suitable for a fledgling Marine Police Section. However, Adams said, for reasons unknown the training necessary for ranks to eligible to sit national examinations and be competent to conduct maritime operations at sea was never done.
With regards to piracy, Adams said his position will always be that Guyana and Suriname must come together and agree on joint patrols. He was not enthusiastic about fisher folk being armed.
He noted US$4 million in security support committed by China and recommended that in order to address piracy various types of marine electronic equipment, communication equipment, safety equipment, emergency equipment and if possible small territorial sea patrol craft suitable for our territory should be acquired.
Adams ended by pointing out that over the years there has been plenty of talk about piracy but little has been done to tackle it.
