KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent (CMC) — The Commander of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Coast Guard Service, Deon Henry, said Thursday that the authorities here have confirmed the strike “of a vessel within our waters” on Friday “by a missile”.
In a broadcast on state media, Henry said that the Coast Guard had received the information from local fishermen, “who were actually on location” when they saw the vessel struck by “a missile.
“The fishermen were going towards the No. 5 five FAD. When I say FAD, I’m talking about fish aggregating devices that were installed by the Ministry of Fisheries in 2024, 2025. So, these devices actually attract fish”.
Henry said that the FAD is the normal fisher ground for fishermen in St. Vincent and the Grenadines and “so the location put us some 45 miles southeast of St. Vincent, or 32 miles east of Canouan Island.
“So that confirms the strike that happened in our exclusive economic zone,” he said.
Henry said that the Coast Guard has been urging local fishermen to observe safety measures when going out to sea and “file what we call a … plan” informing “where you’re going to fish and what time you expect to be back”.
He said that this is “very important” and that fisherfolks should “also try to communicate with their family and local authorities on a, maybe, frequent basis.
“We also encourage fishermen to paint their vessels in bright colours, so that for search and rescue purposes, you can easily be identified by the Coast Guard or other assets looking for you in the event you get lost at sea.
He also urged fishermen, while at sea, if they see something, “please say something”.
He said all fishermen know one another and in the event they come across “non-national fishermen in our waters say something, especially if those vessels have high-power engines…
“So once again, I can reiterate that the strike did happen in our waters,” Henry said, adding that the US South Command “did mention a strike was conducted by US forces”.
Meanwhile, National Security Minister, St. Clair Leacock, noted the difference between communication among law enforcement agencies and governments and that Kingstown has not been informed by the United States of any military action in local waters.
“Are we upset? Are we concerned? Certainly. We feel that we have not been properly treated in this exercise. But we look around and we see in this regard, we’re not alone. We have had experiences in neighbouring Venezuela. We know what is happening in the international community, and we see what have been the outcomes, and we take a very pragmatic approach to the resolution of this matter at hand.
“We continue therefore to wait and hope that, since we are all agreed and signed on to be respecters of sovereign rights through the various international and legal arrangements and instruments at our disposal, that this matter will come to early resolution and that that degree of normalcy will return to our society,” Leacock said.
He said that in the meantime, the Ministry of National Security, as well as the police, the Coast Guard and other stakeholders “who are already stretched by the impact of the narcotics trade in our parts, are asking all people to play their role and act wisely”.
Leacock warned fishermen as well as other members of the population that if they come across “parcels of drugs that are in the water or wash ashore” to inform the police and other law enforcement authorities immediately, adding, “do not take chances with the belief that it represents a get-rich-quick opportunity. It’s not going to happen.
“And so, at this time, we are asking all of our people to have confidence in your government, to continue to maintain that we resolve that as a people, that we are entitled to a high degree and modicum of respect as a sovereign state and that as a collective who will do all our power to protect our combined interest.”
Leacock also defended the decision of the new government not to rush into making statements on the vessel strike, saying he had been “deliberately cautious and awaiting a sufficiency of information before I can speak intelligently to the matter at hand, and you can only speak about that which you know.
“My own political sensitivity tells me that there are people who are always anxious to us to be able to seize opportunities that are current to — and these are my words — demonstrate our masculinity, or as we are saying that we are a sovereign state and that we can take care of our own affairs.”
Leacock said that he also wanted to address the issue of sovereignty, telling the nation that while St. Vincent and the Grenadines is an independent country, “sovereignty is buttressed and ensured, not just by military might or the lack thereof.
“It is supported through the international commitment to be a country of laws, and we do that by different means,” he said, adding “in this particular situation, we are like all Vincentians: sensitive to the fact that there are as many Vincentians living in diaspora communities, and some may well say that in the case of the United States of America, there may be more first., second and third and other generation of intentions who are residing there, with an interest in what’s happening in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
“Equally, there are very many Vincentians who are concerned that we maintain a level cordiality and respect for relationship of what they call the big brother in the north, the United States of America.
“That we should get information, we certainly feel so entitled. That we didn’t get that information as yet, we are, of course, disappointed, but we are a government that understands the dynamics of international relationships and foreign relationships.
“We are in no position to flex any kind of muscle, but at the same time, we do not make ourselves a soft target to be taken for granted or disrespected. So, we still await that opportunity by the United States government to give us further reportage on the zone strike in our economic zone,” Leacock said in the broadcast.
Need a greater coast guard presence in our waters..most times the coast guard boats are in shore..the mere fact that our respective coast guard are out patrolling our waters more often would help..and help our fishermen..open lines of communication with US patrol..for what it’s worth.
Our government is so weak, respect for who? Do the US respect us when they can just do to us what they please without anything done to them? All we can do is talk? Why not go to the United nations and pressure them to take action against the Orange bulb government? They talk about war on drugs and killing people for selling it but what about killing their own for buying it? After all, it is a buy and sell trade.