| …one fisherman missingFear has returned to the fishing industry. Pirates have launched an all out attack on fishermen plying their trade in the Corentyne River,Cheap Jerseys From China, which borders Guyana with neighbouring Suriname.One family is now living in hope because their loved one has been missing since Wednesday and as the days pass there is little hope that he will be found alive. His boat was hijacked by about five pirates.Chabdradath Harrynauth, called Kumar and Square, 49, of Number 73 Village has been a fisherman for all his life.According to his wife Asha Premnauth, the only thing her husband knows to do is fish. The couple has six children.The woman said that her husband left home around 06:00 hrs on Wednesday to go on a regular fishing trip. These trips normally last between eight and 10 days. She is not too sure what time they left the wharf at No 66 Fish Shore Complex. He was captaining his sister-in-law Surujdai Khan’s boat, Navin SK 1361.He was accompanied by a four man crew comprising Kumar of No 65 Village; Jagan of Number 74 Village; Cockroach of Number 68 Village; and Rohan of Number 69 Village. The boat was well stocked with over $250,000 worth in ration.The woman stated that she got the news of her missing husband on Thursday about 05:30 hrs when she went to the fishing complex to purchase fish and was told that her husband’s boat got hijacked and that he is missing. She was told that the other men just came in on another boat.She saw the four crew members with marks of violence about their bodies and the men were crying out in pain. She started to scream and telephoned her children and relatives. They were then told the horrifying tale of what took place.The men told her that they were fishing off Big Shell in Suriname, a 12-hour drive from the Corentyne foreshore. The men said that the pirates beat them mercilessly with cutlasses and wood, took away their fishes, fish glue, engine,NHL Jerseys From China, gas bottle, two barrels with gasoline, ice box cover, and their belongings including ID cards, passports. The pirates also cut their seine worth over $2M, and ransacked and damaged the boat. They were then taken and placed into another boat. The woman kept breaking down in tears and she wondered how she would take care of her children since her husband is the sole breadwinner and she has three still in secondary school. Her youngest child is 13 years old.The other boat Natasha SK 769, a 50-foot craft, is owned by Jaichand Gopaul of No. 67 village. He stated that around Thursday his workmen were towed into the wharf by another fishing boat that was also hijacked, but the men had a spare engine which they repaired and were able to get their boat into shore.He stated that his five-man crew was taken by surprise by the hijackers. The pirates, after beating his crew and stealing their belongings, including their engine, fish and fish glue,Wholesale NFL Jerseys China, then dumped the four other men into his boat and left them to drift. They then left with Harrynauth.A boat belonging to a Mon Repos fishing crew which was also hijacked was passing on their way home when they saw the “Natasha” drifting. The crew went to the rescue and brought them in with the nine wounded men inside.According to reports, the Mon Repos fishing crew was also beaten and one of the men had a chop on his head.Relatives ventured out to sea in search of the hijacked Navin SK 1361,Cheap Nike Free Run Shoes, which they later spotted drifting off the No 47 foreshore sometime on Thursday,Wholesale Football Jerseys, but the fisherman, known also as “Capo”, was nowhere to be seen. The boat was eventually tugged into shore.Relatives said that they reported the matter to the Police and all the relevant authorities,Wholesale China Jerseys, but are basically left on their own. “The police don’t even visit the wharf.”The fishermen attached to the No.66 Fish Shore Complex are pondering their next move as many do not want to return to the high seas. However, many do not have any other means of livelihood and being the only thing they know have to risk their lives to provide for themselves and family.They said that so far for the month about 15 boats have been hijacked.One fisherman who was badly beaten only last week was too scared to speak. However many do not want to come forward for fear of reprisal.The fishermen said that they know the pirates and have reported the identities to the police and the relevant authorities, including ministers of the government, but nothing is happening. “On many occasions they have seen the pirates’ faces”.Minister of Agriculture Dr Leslie Ramsammy was scheduled to visit the complex on October 9, but never showed up.Trician Khan, of Number 78 Village who lives in Montserrat, has had a torrid one month. He returned to the country on Thursday with his dead mother-in-law who perished in the aircraft accident in Antigua a few weeks ago. He was unable to attend the funeral which took place on Friday, because of the circumstances. Not long after arriving he got the message that his mother’s boat was hijacked and that his uncle is missing.He has been with his relatives since then, going out on the high seas searching for his missing relative.He hasn’t slept two hours since arriving in Guyana. His wife who has been hospitalised since September in Montserrat is expected to give birth in the coming week. She has no relatives over there, only friends. His mother-in-law was travelling for the first time to be with her daughter when she died in the plane crash. |
