Leader of the Opposition in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, has strongly criticized the Dr. Godwin Friday-led administration for what he describes as its silence following the destruction of a fishing vessel off the coast of Canouan on Friday, February 16, 2026, an incident reportedly acknowledged by authorities in the United States.
According to Dr. Gonsalves, wreckage from one vessel was discovered off Canouan, while another was found floating in waters near Owia on the same day. Speaking during his Monday morning radio programme on Star FM, Gonsalves expressed concern that the government had not publicly addressed the matter. “This government hasn’t said anything yet about these matters, at least not as far as I know,” he stated.
Dr. Gonsalves indicated that he had reached out to regional contacts for information but said that, to his knowledge, even regional officials had not been formally briefed by United States authorities.
The Opposition Leader framed the incident within a broader regional context, referencing a previous case in which two fishermen were killed in waters between Trinidad and Venezuela after their vessel was destroyed. That matter is reportedly before U.S. courts, with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) representing the families.
While acknowledging the regional fight against narcotics trafficking, Gonsalves stressed that drug-related offences do not carry the death penalty in the United States or in Caribbean jurisdictions. “Even if these persons were involved in drug trafficking, you can’t just kill them,” he said, underscoring principles of international and domestic law. “Everybody is innocent until proven guilty. You cannot be judge, jury, and executioner without giving people an opportunity to defend themselves in a court of law.”
He emphasized that law enforcement must be conducted through established legal processes, including detention, investigation, and prosecution, rather than through lethal force absent due process.
Dr. Gonsalves also questioned whether the Regional Security System (RSS), which operates surveillance aircraft including the C-26, had any monitoring activity in the area at the time of the incident.
He warned that such actions could have a chilling effect on legitimate fishing operations, arguing that fishermen may now fear going out to sea if they believe they could be targeted without clear evidence of wrongdoing.
In his appeal, Gonsalves called on U.S. authorities to reconsider what he described as a troubling approach to maritime interdiction. “While we must cooperate in fighting drug trafficking and the illegal trade in small arms, law enforcement must remain lawful,” he said, urging stronger regional collaboration between CARICOM states, Latin America, and the United States grounded in respect for international law and human rights.
As of publication, no official statement had been issued by the government addressing the reported incidents.
