Fishermen escape quarantine facility

– MoPH withholding information from Police

Two fishermen who were in a quarantine facility in East Canje, Berbice, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) have escaped and are on the run.
The men were reportedly part of a group of a five-member crew that Suriname authorities had dropped off at the Number 63 Beach.
The catch and equipment, inclusive of the boat and engine of persons found fishing illegally in Suriname waters, were also confiscated.
So far, two separate crews have been brought to the Number 63 Beach by Surinamese authorities as the country stepped up measures to prevent persons from entering the country.
The first crew of seven was located by local law enforcement officers and taken to a quarantine facility at Mahaica, Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) but after the stipulated fourteen-day mandatory quarantine period had passed, they were sent home.
However, the second crew of five was taken into quarantine at the facility at Rosehall, East Canje, but with the lack of proper security, they managed to escape.
The police were able to recapture three of the men who have agreed to return to the facility but two are still at large.
Presently, the facility is equipped with Police ranks who have expressed concern of not being provided with adequate protective gear.
Meanwhile, Regional Commander, Senior Superintendent Calvin Brutus has accused the officials at the Public Health Ministry of withholding information from them with respect to the COVID-19 cases in the region.
This was revealed recently when he was asked to provide security to the family members of Osa Collins called “Dale Collings” who died from the virus. He noted that this request was made after the woman had passed and the family members had refused to follow the restriction rules.
The Commander said they were provided with updated information four days after the confirmation of the COVID-19 case.
“I am not preview to the information as to whether or not the person is indeed positive. I know there was suspected to be infected with the virus and the medical staff took her away to do their test but we were never informed afterwards if the tests were positive or not,” the Commander said.
However, the police are being called out to visit homes and carry out an investigation to determine whether persons who are suspected to be infected with COVID-19 are at home before medical personnel arrive to take them away.