| By Zena HenryAlleged pirate attacks in two separate incidents have led to the disappearance of four more fishermen seeking their livelihood via the fishing industry. This is, however, beyond the belief of one family who refuses to accept that their relative’s disappearance is as a result of pirates.Geomattie Husman of 31 Enmore North, East Coast Demerara (ECD) is adamant that, “something fishy” is surrounding her brother’s disappearance. She said that her 27-year-old brother, Bisham Mohamed aka Baby, has been missing for almost three weeks, and the conflicting reports pertaining to the hijacking are “ringing bells” in her head.Husman understands that pirates hijacked the fishing vessel on which her brother worked before throwing its occupants overboard. In another tale, the woman said the lone survivor of the ordeal gave another story saying that the boat’s occupants were beaten and later told to jump overboard.Bisham Mohamed, called ‘Baby’Husman said her brother would usually ply his fishing trade in Suriname and thus left for the neighbouring territory last August. She said it is usual for the brother to call, maintaining contact with the family, but after two phone calls after heading out to sea, Mohamed was never heard from again.Patrick Vieira of Logwood, Enmore, East Coast Demerara (ECD), the owner of the hijacked fishing vessel, is also not buying the story of the worker (name provided) who survived the alleged attack. He said two of his three workers are missing after setting sail almost three weeks ago. They are Bisham Mohamed, and the Captain, Khemraj Cyril, of Logwood, Enmore ECD. The lone survivor was rescued by a small fishing vessel,Cheap NFL Jerseys China, Vieira explained.News from the ‘survivor’ is that the fishermen had just finished pulling in a catch and were setting to get the fish in the ice box when they looked up and saw another boat approaching them. Vieira said the man’s story indicated that the occupants of the other boat boarded the fishing vessel and ordered the crewmen to go into the cabin where they were locked in.Subsequently, the alleged pirates called the men from the cabin one at a time where they were beaten and ordered to stand behind the boat’s fish pan. Vieira said the man claimed that the pirates told them to jump overboard and he was the first to go. He continued that the ‘survivor’ could not give account for the other men, because he said he went under the water and swam away leaving his co-workers behind.Vieira said it was also the man’s story to Surinamese officials that the pirates attacked the boat, beat everyone on board, and then threw them overboard one after the other. Vieira said he understood from the ‘survivor’ that the Captain was the first man to be thrown overboard. He also claimed that another fisherman from another boat was brought onboard the hijacked fishing vessel hours before the hijacking. He said the man fell ill and since the boat had a few more days before going back to the wharf, he was allowed to stay on board until such time.The ‘survivor’ could also give no account for the whereabouts of the fourth man.Vieira said his boat was recovered after receiving news from another boat owner that the vessel was out at sea, unmanned. He said, “The boat’s engine was the only thing damaged while everything else was intact; even the missing men’s belongings and the boat’s valuables.”In the meantime, the family of Murtland Fordyce, 44, of Lot 82 Gopie Street, Buxton, ECD, is also awaiting word of the fisherman’s whereabouts. They are unsure about the circumstances surrounding his disappearance since they said reports are sketchy.Murtland FordyceLeslyn Lowe, Fordyce’s niece, said that her uncle left home early on the morning on September 22 and was heard from seven days ago. She said her family learnt of her uncle’s disappearance after the brother-in-law of another missing crewman had related the incident to someone in Guyana.The niece said she only knows that the fishing vessel in which her uncle was travelling was hijacked by pirates. The woman said her uncle was supposed to return home two Thursdays ago.Lowe further claimed that a report was made at the Vigilance Police Station, but the family was told that a report about the hijacking and missing fisherman must be made in Suriname where the incident occurred. The woman said they were sent away.The boat owner’s wife said that her two sons and her son-in-law are in Suriname assisting in the search for the missing fishermen. She explained that six men went out fishing; four were rescued while two others are unaccounted for.The woman said she was not in receipt of much information but understood that the engine aboard her husband’s boat was damaged and is unable to sail. She also said that the Surinamese police were investigating the matter.Kaieteur News was told that officials from the Ministry of Agriculture are currently conducting investigations pertaining to the missing seamen. |
