30 Guyanese boats install surveillance devices but fishermen unhappy with treatment

Some 30 boats used by Guyanese fisherfolk to ply their trade in the Corentyne River that separates Guyana and Suriname have installed the costly surveillance devices as requested by authorities in the neighboring country.

But local fishermen remain unhappy over the challenges they face while fishing in waters claimed by Suriname.

A part of the arrangement is that the Guyanese vessels must be moored in Suriname and fishermen have also complained that only the unwanted catch is sent to Guyana.

In July the fishermen were asked to install the surveillance devices valued at US$500 (GUY$100,000) on their fishing vessels.

Fishermen living in the Corentyne, Berbice area were forced to install the device on their vessels after Surinamese authorities refused to continue renting their licenses for fishing unless the devices were installed and the boats are moored in Suriname.

This move now forces them to conduct business in Suriname and imposes a restriction on allowing the fishermen to return to Guyana with the vessels.

The fisherman who spoke with the News Room believes they are being targeted and denied use of the rented licenses for fear of victimization. For this reason, he asked for anonymity.

“The license holder in surname said if the boat comes to Guyana they will take away the license from us. Now without the license, I can’t fish because…when we come out we are in Suriname water so we have to get a Suriname license.”

“It is costing us and then the boat is left in Suriname. We are hearing our boat cabin being damaged because the boats aren’t properly tied. We are not hearing things are being stolen from the boat as yet but soon that can happen,” the frustrated man explained.

Although persons are guarding the boats, the fisherfolk said that no one is left with the boats to bail water when it rains.

Plainly put, when the fishermen have made their catch under the rented license arrangement, they have to return to the dock in Suriname. The men are left to find their way back to Guyana.

The fisherman who spoke to the News Room explained that they usually pay $10,000 to return and then they pay the same amount traveling back to Suriname.

He said the worries intensifies when they have to sell the catches because the Surinamese do not buy all the fish. In addition the currency exchange rate has posed a huge problem for the fishermen. The Surinamese buy using Suriname dollars (SRD) and when this money is brought back to Guyana the exchange is SRD$8 to GYD$1.

“We have cases that when we sell the fish over there they are not giving us a good price and they pay you in SRD… compared to the price that we get in Guyana. We getting close to $80 difference.”

“Then they don’t buy certain fish so the boys have to throw it away because they are not allowing the boat to come to Guyana. So whatever they can buy they buy and whatever they can’t buy you have to throw it away or give it to people who come around. Then they pay you what price they want to pay you,” the man complained.

However, efforts to counter longstanding challenges of Guyanese fisherfolk plying their trade in Suriname, are being made by the Surinamese and Guyanese governments. Some 150 licenses were promised to Guyanese fisherfolk so that they would not need to engage in the ongoing exploitative arrangement.

As a result of the issues fishermen face, last month three Guyanese boat captains, who were detained in Suriname with fake fishing licenses were made to pay hefty fines in the neighbouring country. Mustapha had told the News Room that the men admitted that they were given fake licenses.