Piracy cases have plunged since 2015 - Harmon

Piracy cases have plunged since 2015 – Harmon

May 13, 2018 News

– Coast Guard conducting more patrols in fishing waters

The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Coast Guard will be given resources, once available, to increase its presence and protect local fishing grounds.
This was reported by Minister of State, Joseph Harmon at Friday’s post-Cabinet press conference. The GDF Unit, he explained, has increased its security posture following the piracy attack in Surinamese waters that to date has left 4 dead and 11 missing.
He reminded that when the coalition government took office, piracy was at a high.
“In fact, in 2011, there were 10 reports of piracy. In 2012, there were 22. In 2013 – three. In 2014 – eight. In 2015 – four. In 2016 – one. In 2017 – nine and for 2018, up to this last incident, there was none. This basically was not something that occurred by magic, but as a result of a consistency which the government took when dealing with these piracy matters.”

The army’s Coast Guard is increasing its patrols following the recent piracy attack in Suriname which left several Guyanese fishermen dead.

Minister Harmon pointed to the reactivation of the anti-piracy task force and the engagement by the Public Security Minister and his officials with fisherfolk to discuss ways and means to protect their lives and vessels while at sea.
“You’d recall we examined the use of transponders to be attached to the fishing vessels so they can give off a signal if they were in distress. All of these things were happening. In addition to which we were flying fortnightly aerial sorties around the coast by our GDF aircraft.”
It was this combined effort, the Minister of State added, that “forced those with criminal intent outside of Guyana’s waters” and is an issue that will need greater attention by the security forces.
Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan led a high-level delegation to Guyana’s eastern neighbour to liaise with his Surinamese counterparts as investigations into the attacks.
It is believed that the attack was revenge for the March 30th killing of a well known Guyanese boat owner, in Suriname, where he lived.
Cabinet was briefed on May 8, about the measures being taken by that country to bring the perpetrators to justice and modalities of closer collaboration between the countries’ security services.

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