National Day of mourning declared for piracy victims

President David Granger has declared Monday, June 25 a national day of mourning for the victims of the April 27^th and May 3^rd piracy attacks off the coast of Suriname.  The attacks have left close to twenty fishermen dead or missing.

In a statement from the Ministry, the day should be observed as a solemn memorial to the Guyanese fishermen who were massacred off the coast of Suriname.

The President called on all public and private corporations, agencies and other bodies to fly the national flag at half-staff to demonstrate solidarity with the families of those killed, in what he described as “grisly and gruesome” acts and to pay due respect to the memory of the victims.

On April 27, twenty fishermen were attacked while they plied their trade off the coast of Suriname.

While five of the men have survived and three bodies recovered, 12 of the men are still missing and considered dead.

Following collaboration between the Guyanese and Surinamese police, several persons were arrested and charged including two prime suspects, Premnauth Persaud called “Sinbad” of Cromarty Village and Nakool Manohar called “Fyah” of Number 43 Village.

On May 3rd, another attack off the coast of the neighbouring country left one person dead.

Missing are: Ramesh Sanchar, 50; Glenroy Jones, 20; Tilaknauth Mohabir, 50; Ralph Anthony Couchman,19; Rajkumar Bissessar; Ganesh Beharry; Bobby Ibrahim; Sunil also known as “Podock”; Ramnarine Singh; Bharat Heralall; Randy Burnette; and Olenski Maxwell.