The common-law wife of an Owia fisherman who has not returned home after going to fish along the rock around 5 a.m. Wednesday, said she believes that he died.
The man, Robert Lavia aka Robbie, 51, who is also a farmer, is believed to have done fishing north of Owia, in the area between Rock Gutter and Cramacou.
Lavia’s common-law wife of over 20 years, Annis “Janice” Hoyte, told iWitness News on Thursday that he went to the river on Tuesday to catch crayfish to use as bait during his fishing trip the following day.
“He usually goes alone,” a teary-eyed Hoyte told iWitness News.
On Wednesday morning, Lavia left home with a bucket, a bag, a cutlass and fishing lines.
Hoyte told iWitness News that Lavia would fish in different locations, but that morning, he supposedly went between Rock Gutter and Cramacou.
She said she found it strange when he had not returned by midday, so she informed his brother and made a report ot the Owia Police Station.
Hoyte said the villagers went to search for Lavia, but she has little hope of his returning.
She speculated about what might have happened to him, saying, “Lavia was on a rock and a swell knocked him off the rock and he knocked his head and he fell in the water”.
The waters of northeastern St. Vincent are known for their strong and unpredictable currents and large waves.
Hoyte described Lavia as “very quiet” and said she felt “very sad”.
She said she understands that a reel of fishing line has been found but she did not know where or by whom.
Police have confirmed that they received a report on Wednesday about Lavia not returning from his fishing trip.
A St. Vincent and the Grenadines Coast Guard vessel was seen patrolling the area between Owia and Fancy on Thursday.