ST. JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC -The Antigua and Barbuda government Tuesday said it would launch a “full investigation” into the circumstances that led to the sinking of a vessel with several local and African nationals on board early this morning.
The Antigua and Barbuda Defence Force (ABDF) said that 15 people had been rescued, and three bodies had also been recovered while the search continues for other survivors.
The 30-foot vessel sank about 40 miles northwest of Antigua and 12 nautical miles south of Conaree in St Kitts just after midnight (local time).
The ABDF Chief of Defence Staff, Colonel Telbert Benjamin, speaking on the state-owned ABS Television said the “vessel went down in relatively deep water, and so recovery … might be a bit of a challenge”.
In a statement, Prime Minister Gaston Browne said the vessel, identified as Jenna B, had departed “illegally” from Urlings in Antigua with 32 people on board, expressing his “deep sorrow at the loss of life and distress suffered by persons aboard” the vessel.
Media reports here said most of those rescued and missing are from unidentified African countries and nationals from Antigua and Barbuda. Prime Minister Browne noted that the vessel left here “for an unknown destination, which capsized in the open sea.
“While reports are still sketchy, we understand that most persons on board the vessel may be Africans who were part of those who arrived here as tourists but to migrate to other countries.”
Prime Minister Browne said that it is “widely known” that his Government has been making “every effort to be helpful to these brothers and sisters from Africa who were stranded on Antigua, including by granting them residence and the opportunity to work.
“We have also been engaged with the United Nations High Commission for Refugees and the International Organisation for Migration on the best ways of treating them as refugees,” Browne said, adding that two things appear clear from today’s tragic events.
“The first is that the Africans on board the vessel wanted to leave Antigua and Barbuda for another country. The second is that the owners and operators of a boat in Antigua and Barbuda facilitated their transport on an illegal journey.
“My government will launch a full investigation into the circumstances of this unlawful and dreadful affair, including the involvement of any citizens and residents,” Prime Minister Browne, saying that his administration will “also uphold our international obligations against human trafficking and illegal migration by strengthening our domestic institutions and enhancing our cooperation with regional and hemispheric partners.”
He said in the meantime, the Government will also continue to offer refuge in Antigua and Barbuda “to the survivors of today’s events, and we will make appropriate arrangements for the burial of the deceased.
“We will also try to contact their relatives to advise them of this heartbreaking tragedy.
“We appeal to the Africans, who are in Antigua and Barbuda, not to be tempted into schemes such as today, but to work with the Government, through our Immigration authorities, to help find acceptable solutions to their circumstances.”
Prime Minister Browne said all the facts surrounding today’s calamity are unknown.
“However, we all want to understand what occurred and take action to ensure it does not happen again. My Government will further advise of all these circumstances as soon as we receive more and better particulars,” Browne added.
and then 