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Double-jeopardy for fishermen: Convicted in Suriname, now facing Guyana courts

Jul 01, 2008 News

After almost five weeks of languishing in a Surinamese jail, several local fishermen are back in Guyana…to face court once again.
This time, according to relatives, the fishermen, numbering about 18, are to appear in a Berbice court today to face charges of illegal departure from Guyana.
Yesterday, Richard Griffith, who brought the plight of the 23 fishermen to the fore, besought the court to have leniency on the fishermen today, since they have already been fined a fortune in Suriname.
Griffith’s two brothers were held during the arrests of 23 Guyanese and seizure of five fishing boats between May 31st and June 2nd.
Kaieteur News understands that a number of fishermen are still in jail in Suriname awaiting the payment of their fines.
Griffith claimed that he had to raise over $1.8 million to pay the fines levied on his brother and a family friend.
Surinamese authorities have seized the boats, seines, fish cages and other equipment of the men and imposed heavy fines on them, opting to send the fishermen back to Guyana than risk a long trial.
According to Suriname’s Prosecutor-General Subhas Punwasi, a trial could take up to several months, and if eventually the suspects were sentenced and their belongings confiscated, they could appeal the sentences, which could extend the process for several years.
On May 31, some 15 fishermen were arrested by Surinamese authorities as local fishermen there complained that they were being harassed by their Guyanese counterparts.
Two days later, eight more were arrested. Five fishing vessels were also seized.
The fishermen were fined sums ranging from US$2,000 to US$5,000.

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