Search Continues for Three Barbuda Fishermen Missing at Sea

The search for three Barbudan fishermen who have mysteriously vanished at sea since Sunday continues today Monday.

According to reports from Codrington, the missing men—Shalico Charles, Vere Isaac, and Clian Joseph—set out from port early Sunday morning, eager for a day of fishing. However, as the hours slipped by without any word from them, concern began to mount.

“They typically return by about 5:00 PM, so when they didn’t show up, we started to feel uneasy,” shared Joray John, a concerned Barbudan resident. “By Monday morning, when there was still radio silence and no responses to their cell phones, our worry intensified. That’s when we knew we had to organize a search and rescue operation.”

Thanks to the determination of the local community, they enlisted the services of Calvin Ayre Helicopters, which undertook a two-hour aerial search on Monday afternoon, scouring the vast expanse of ocean for any signs of the fishermen. Regrettably, no evidence of the men’s vessel has been discovered.

Brigadier Telbert Benjamin, the Commander of the Antigua and Barbuda Defence Force, shared that the Coast Guard was alerted to the situation late Sunday evening. Multiple assets from the force have already participated in the ongoing search efforts.

“We have been coordinating our search operation both locally and with the nearby regional rescue agency in Martinique,” Brig. Benjamin explained. “Analyzing the wave patterns has been essential to determine where the fishermen might be, particularly if their 30-foot fishing boat encountered any trouble and became stranded. Our vessels are on the water, and we have aircraft in the air actively attempting to locate the men.”

Additionally, officials in St. Kitts and St. Maarten have been alerted to watch for the missing boat. “Given their intended course, if the vessel is adrift, it’s likely that it is nearing St. Maarten by now,” he noted.

The ABDF commander revealed that the missing boat is reportedly white, a detail that complicates visibility against the choppy, unpredictable sea conditions.
Despite the challenges faced in locating the fishermen or their vessel, Brig. Benjamin highlighted a sliver of hope amidst the despair.