Families of piracy victims get monetary support from government
DPI, Guyana, Friday, June 29, 2018
The Ministry of Public Security today made a monetary donation to family members of victims of the recent piracy attack in Surinamese waters.
Minister of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan today made the donation of $100,000 each to the next of kin of five fishermen who were either killed, injured or missing following the two piracy attacks in April and May this year.
Minister Ramjattan said everyone is saddened over the deaths and the traumatic effects they have had on the family members. The donations were made in the ministry’s boardroom this morning.
“Indeed, a number of relatives did contact the ministry and also the commissioner of police consequently to the two attacks in Surinamese waters in which so many people died and indicated that they would need financial help to do a couple of things,” he said.
Missing fisherman Glenroy Jones was living in Suriname for the last four years. His father Glendon Jones received the monetary assistance for his two children who travelled to Suriname in search of him.
The parents of injured fisherman Sherwin Lovell requested assistance to aid in his recovery. The wife of Captain Deonarine Goberdhan received the money to assist in his medical treatment and for her and two daughters to return to Suriname.
Chandra Barron, mother of 40-year-old Sunil Ramoutar requested money for the processing of travel documents to travel to Suriname in search of her son. She spoke to the media after the ceremony.
“Right now, it’s sad because I miss my son. You are going through a pain, you lost your son. The only thing I hope that you can hear the voice back, that’s the main thing you know?” she said tearfully.
On April 27, a piracy attack in Surinamese waters left thirteen fishermen missing and feared dead. According to the survivors, they were assaulted with machetes and forced to jump into the sea by the assailants. Four fishermen were later saved while three others washed ashore. According to survivors, they were assaulted with machetes and forced to jump into the sea by the assailants who are suspected to be of Guyanese heritage.
Minister Ramjattan said family members of other victims will receive their assistance at a later date.
By: Alexis Rodney.
Images: Jameel Mohamed.