The Royal Saint Lucia Police Force says its investigation has uncovered no evidence connecting the disappearance of several Saint Lucian fishermen to a deadly United States military operation against a suspected drug-trafficking vessel in the Caribbean.
However, Police Commissioner Verne Garde said this week that investigators have so far been unable to establish a relationship between the US strike and the disappearance of the Saint Lucian fishermen. Garde said the probe into the missing vessel and its occupants remains active. “What I can tell you is that the Royal St. Vincent Police Force did report on an activity in their waters,” Garde said. “What we are investigating is a missing vessel, missing persons. We have not had anything to tie the two events together at this point.”
Superintendent of Police Stephen Victorin, who oversees the Southern Division, said police have conducted interviews with persons who may assist investigators in determining the circumstances surrounding the disappearance. “The interviews have been conducted that the individuals left prior to the time of that incident occurring,” Victorin said.
He noted, however, that the timing of the fishermen’s departure could prove relevant as investigators continue their inquiries. “It is suggestive that they may have been on that vessel, but at this point the investigation is still ongoing,” he said.
Despite the timing, police have not confirmed that the missing Saint Lucians were aboard the vessel involved in the United States military operation.
The police force’s position comes amid continued speculation surrounding the whereabouts of the fishermen and questions over whether their disappearance is connected to the reported maritime incident in the region.
For now, authorities say there is no established link between the two events, while investigations into the missing fishermen continue.
