Police urge calm even as US strikes threaten SVG’s fishing industry

By Ashford Peters

Police in St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) on Wednesday urged calm amidst reports of deadly US military strikes in or near SVG’s territorial waters, even as local fishers were expressing concern about their personal safety, livelihood and the impact on the economy.

The US Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) said on Tuesday that Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted three lethal kinetic strikes on three vessels operated by “Designated Terrorist Organizations”, resulting in the deaths of 11 male “narco-terrorists”.

SOUTHCOM said four males were killed on a vessel in the Eastern Pacific, four on a second vessel in the Eastern Pacific, and three on the third vessel in the Caribbean.

US authorities have not given specific locations of the Feb. 13 and 16 strikes.

On Monday, Prime Minister of St. Lucia, Phillip J Pierre said Castries was “actively engaging through established diplomatic and security channels” after confirming that “people lost their lives” in the latest United States military strike against what Washington says are illegal drug dealers in the Caribbean Sea.

Meanwhile, on Wednesday, President of SVG’s National Fisherfolk Organisation, Winsbert Harry, himself a fisherman, told iWitness News that the Feb. 13 lethal strike occurred between 3 and a.m. off the Grenadine islands, about 60 miles southeast of St. Vincent.

Harry said the fishing vessel was struck about 9 miles from fish aggregating device No. 5, a location where the majority of Vincentian fishermen fish.

Meanwhile, in a statement on Wednesday, the Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force (RSVGPF) said aware of the concern among fishermen, mariners, and the wider public following reports of recent military activity in waters near SVG and the discovery of wreckage in the surrounding region.

“For many Vincentians, the sea is a livelihood and routine, and any uncertainty there is felt deeply,” the police statement said.

It said that information released by U.S. Southern Command indicates that on Feb. 13, an operation was conducted against a vessel believed to have been involved in organised narco-trafficking.

“The information received so far suggests that this was a targeted, intelligence-led operation and not directed at fishing vessels or ordinary maritime activity,” the police statement said.

“The RSVGPF, through its SVG Coast Guard Service, remains present and alert within our maritime space. Fishermen and seafarers are encouraged to continue their normal operations and to remain in communication while at sea. Any debris, unusual sightings, or unexplained activity should be reported immediately.

“The safety of our mariners and coastal communities remains a priority, and the RSVGPF will continue to act as necessary to safeguard our people and our waters.”

In addition to claiming lives, the US military actions are undermining the blue economy, one of the four pillars on which the three-month-old New Democratic Party (NDP) administration has said it will build the Vincentian economy.

The deadly missile strikes on boats in or near SVG’s territorial waters are further endangering the multi-million-dollar fishing industry.

Military strikes on Feb. 13 and 16 have killed six people, the US military has said.

The US Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) said in a Feb. 13 press release that under the command of, General Francis L. Donovan, “Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted a lethal kinetic strike on a vessel operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations”.

Designated Terrorist Organizations are groups identified by governments — notably the U.S. State Department — as engaging in terrorism that threatens US nationals or national security.

A kinetic strike is a military action that causes physical destruction through the high-speed impact of an object.

According to SOUTHCOM, “intelligence confirmed the vessel was transiting along known narco-trafficking routes in the Caribbean and was engaged in narco-trafficking operations”.

Three “narco-terrorists” were killed during this action, the SOUTHCOM release said.

Harry said the local authorities installed five or six FADs last year — including one between Georgetown Bay and Fancy, one off Balliceaux (in the northern Grenadines), and one southeast of St. Vincent.

He explained that the FADs attract the larger fish, such as tuna.

Harry said St. Lucian fishermen normally fish at FADs Nos. 1, 2 and 3, adding that because of the time it takes to get to FAD No. 5, Vincentian fishermen usually leave St. Vincent around 3 a.m. so they can get there in time to “jig” the fish while they “bite” between 4 and 5 a.m.

“So, fishers now engage in that type of fishing because we rarely see the dolphin (mahi-mahi) and the kingfish like before, so that’s why you’re seeing a lot of tuna in the market right now,” Harry said.

“So, it’s a very serious concern because some of the fishing vessels we have here in St. Vincent, they are now using these engines, say 150hp (horsepower), some boats are 200hp, and when you’re running in the night, going by these FADs, it’s full speed, and you never know what could happen.

“Now, the thing (deadly missile strikes) now moved from the international waters into the Caribbean Sea… right now is a very scary moment for FAD fishers who are travelling very early into the morning time,” Harry said.

Harry said that because the fishermen are scared to go fishing at night, it will have a very serious impact on the fishing industry as the quantity usually landed will be reduced significantly, and it will adversely impact livelihood, creating hardship for fishermen.

He told iWitness News that 9,970,000 pounds of fish were landed last year and SVG exported 415,000 pounds of fish at a value of approximately EC$16 million.

He noted that most of the fish exports are to the Caribbean and the United States, as exports to Europe had been halted years ago.

Harry said there are just over 1,500 registered fishers and 950 registered fishing boats in the country.

Asked if his organisation had been able to convene a meeting with fisherfolk and stakeholders since the two deadly incidents, Harry said there have been conversations on the phone but they are looking to convene a face-to-face meeting next week.

Harry said there are six primary fisherfolk organisations in SVG and his national organisation was “reaching out to them to see how they could also convene a meeting within their constituency or within their fishing zone.”

He noted that the national organisation has a broader base, adding, “But if we could have these organisations themselves meeting with their membership and then the national organisation will look to see how we could convene a meeting for next Wednesday to iron out the issue.”

Asked if the National Fisherfolk Organisation had been able to discuss anything with the government, or whether they intend to meet with maybe the minister with relevant responsibility, Harry said they have requested a meeting with the minister to look at how they can build and strengthen fishing cooperatives.

“But we ain’t get a date as yet, but we’re looking to see how we could have that meeting done,” he said.

“This could be on the agenda as well, but we have other issues around mainly fishing incidents that we would like to discuss, in terms of even the FAD issue, how do we also get assistance in terms of fishing and regulating fishing?

“So, these are things that we will put on the agenda. But it’s just to have the meeting. We already requested meetings, but there is no date as yet has been given back to the organisation when we could have that meeting”.

Asked about the way forward and addressing the concerns over the deadly strikes, Harry said:

“The national organisation is made up of the six primary organisations. We are also a member of the Caribbean Network of Fisher Folk Organisation, which is CNFO. We also are having discussions … with the members of the Caribbean Fisheries Mechanism Office in St. Vincent. They are the main hub towards fishing authorities in St. Vincent.”

Harry said his organisation is reaching out to its partners in the region to see how jointly they can address these issues “if our leaders at the Caribbean level are not addressing this issue…

“Because we, the fisher folks, we are the ones who are facing it, we are already doing a high-risk job. We are already going into the open ocean.

“So, we need to find ourselves around the region. How do we come up with a strategy? How do we come up with a motto to go with one idea, one voice to CARICOM, to send a message to CARICOM, send a message to our in- country leaders to see how they can address it. So, we in the national organisation are seeking that kind of guidance from our sister partner and cooperatives around the region,” Harry said.

Harry appealed to vendors and fishers and people from fishing communities to get on board to help rally “in terms of reaching out and cry for justice for what is taking place in the Caribbean Sea.

“Because we know it’s going to escalate more, it’s not going to ease up. So, the message from the national organisation is to see how many fisher folks we can get on board in terms of sending this message. Because the national organisation alone will not be able to do it at all,” he said.

Harry further stated:

“We need persons on board, we need the fishers on board, and we need our partners on board to send a clear message and to see how even we can send it worldwide. So, we have to get our voice heard through the Caribbean Network of Fisher Folk Organisations, through CRFM, to see how we can get this addressed to the Caribbean level. So that is how we are going to see how we can approach it.

“But locally, we will be sending, meeting with the fishers and hear their concerns and to see if we could get more fishers to come to the media, more fishers to participate in the discussion, to share their views and the issues, how they feel on the issues. Because I’m the president, I’m a fisherman, but my views alone will not make it, but I would like other persons to participate in the discussion. So that is my thinking from the president’s level.”