Search continues for missing Whim fisherman

The search for 54-year-old fisherman Permaul Punsammy continues, and recently, some of his belongings have been found. Permaul fell overboard in Suriname waters during a fishing trip.

Permaul’s brother, 56-year-old Veerasammy Punsammy, who was on the trip with him, told the News Room that it was raining at the time of the incident on December 19, 2025. Permaul was caught in the seine that was being thrown into the Coppename River, Suriname, and fell overboard.

Veerasammy confirmed that after noticing this, he and the other two crew members began searching and calling out, during which Permaul responded three times.

“The third time he call on me, he seh ‘Harvey’. And he go down deh. After he call on me we start pull back the seine. Abe tie the seine so if he hold on it he can come up but he na hold on the seine, ” he said.

Veerasammy stated that after pulling the seine, Permaul’s cloak was found hooked onto it. Veerasammy believes his brother attempted to remove the cloak in hopes of catching the seine again, but he did not. While continuing the search, they found Permaul’s headlight a short distance away.

The search persisted until the following morning. The next day, he said they visited several landing sites in Suriname and sought the assistance of other boat operators to help locate Permaul.

The incident was reported to authorities in Suriname, and a formal report was filed at the Number 51 Police Station. Given the elapsed days since his disappearance, Veerasammy believes Permaul is no longer alive.

“That’s extra hard for him to live. Unless he hold onto something or meet up with Town boat. Otherwise, he don’t have any alternatives. That is what me understand because of what position abbay bin deh because he gon pitch far,” he stated.