Pirates have attacked at least four fishing boats off the Essequibo Coast of Guyana, beating several of the 20 fishermen.

No has died, according to well-placed sources, but they lost at least GUY$1.5 million in boat engines and fish.

The boats were attacked near the mouth of the Pomeroon River and off Cozier Village.

The fishermen were then left stranded but a few managed to make it to shore Saturday morning and reported the occurrences to the police.

Investigators say the eight pirates were all Indo-Guyanese..

Chief of Staff of the Guyana Defence Force, Commodore Gary Best told Demerara Waves Online News that the Joint Services have responded and would stop, search and detain any vessel based on reasonable suspicion. Kokers would be patrolled at high-water because pirates would often use those. No one has been detained so far, he said.

The pirates were armed with two guns but no shots were fired. They used a cutlass and pieces of wood to beat their victims.

Region Two Chairman, Parmanand Persaud told Demerara Waves Online News that the regional administration has provided fuel and a boat to a party of policemen to assist in conducting a search for the remaining victims. Families and boat-owners are also assisting with the rescue operation.

Persaud said one of the injured has been already brought ashore and is a patient at a hospital. He said he was told that the pirates threw one of the outboard engines into the sea.

Demerara Waves