President David Granger has launched a Commission of Inquiry (COI) into the deadly piracy attack which occurred on April 27, 2018, where 20 Guyanese fishermen were beaten and thrown overboard by Surinamese pirates and this morning Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan swore in Dr Rishee Thakur to head the COI.
The main role of the COI is to determine the role of state agencies of Guyana in the security of the fishermen in the area and to recommend the actions to be taken against all persons or organisations that are deemed responsible for the deaths of those persons.
The COI hearing will be held at the Training Centre of the Skeldon Estate East Berbice-Corentyne. Work will commence immediately and the findings will have to be submitted to the President on or before September 2, 2019.
The inquiry is being launched to probe the circumstances surrounding the piracy attacks which included violent criminal acts and the hijacking of Guyanese-owned vessels which resulted in the deaths of Guyanese nationals on or after April 27, 2018 off the Atlantic Coast of the Republic of Suriname.
In addition, Thakur is to report the findings and recommendation to His Excellency Brigadier David Granger, President of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana.
It was reported that the attack on the Guyanese fishermen occurred on the night of April 27 where four Guyanese were killed. It was reported that four boats with 20 Guyanese fishermen were on the Wai Wai Bank in Suriname waters when they were attacked by Surinamese pirates.
It was reported that the attacks were carried out by Nakool ‘Fyah’ Manohar in retaliation for the death of his brother, Somnauth Manohar, who resided in Suriname.
‘Fyah’ was the first suspect to be charged for the attack. Alexander De Harte of Number 79 Village and Premnauth Persaud called ‘Sanbad’ were also charged with the deadly attack and are currently before the court for the attack.
The five crew members that survived the horrific ordeal are Darmandew Persaud, Anil Lall, 18, Marvin (only name provided), and Sherwin Lovell, 42, while 12 bodies are yet to be located.
Among the missing fishermen who were never found are Bharrat Heralall, Ralph ‘Burnham’ Couchman, Dinesh ‘Vicky’ Persaud, Joshua Glenroy Jones, Tilaknauth Mohabir, Rajkumar Bissessar, Ramesh Sancharra, and Ganesh Beharry.
