GDF Coast Guard increasing security posture

– Reported rates of piracy decreased since 2015

– anti-piracy task force reactivated

– Closer cooperation between Guyana and Suriname between security services

DPI, GUYANA, Friday, May 11, 2018

The GDF Coast Guard will be given resources, once available, to increase its presence and protect local fishing grounds.

This was reported by Minister of State, Joseph Harmon at today’s post-Cabinet press conference. The GDF Unit, he explained, has increased its security posture following the piracy attack in Surinamese waters that left 15 dead.

He reminded that when the coalition government took office, piracy was at a high. The minister stated, “in fact, in 2011, there were 10 reports of piracy. In 2012, there were twenty-two. In 2013, three. In 2014, eight. In 2015, four. In 2016, one. 2017, nine and for 2018, up to this last incident, there was none. This basically was not something that occurred by magic but as a result of a consistency which the government took when dealing with these piracy matters.”

Minister Harmon pointed to the reactivation of the anti-piracy task force and the engagement by the Public Security Minister and his officials with fisherfolk to discuss ways and means to protect their lives and vessels whilst at sea.

“You’d recall we examined the use of transponders to be attached to the fishing vessels so they can give off a signal if they were in distress. All of these things were happening. In addition to which we were flying fortnightly aerial sorties, around the coast by our GDF aircraft.”

It was this combined effort, the Minister of State added, that “forced those with criminal intent outside of Guyana’s waters” and is an issue that will need greater attention by the security forces.

Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan led a high-level delegation to Guyana’s eastern neighbour to liaise with his Surinamese counterparts as investigations into the attacks which left the 15 dead, in that country’s waters. Cabinet was briefed on May 8, about the measures being taken by that country to bring the perpetrators to justice and modalities of closer collaboration between the countries’ security services.

 

By: Paul Mc Adam.

Photographs courtesy of Keno George