3 Dead, 13 Missing After Migrant Boat Headed to USVI Capsizes Off St. Kitts Coast; Antiguan Officials Say Rogue Charter Brought in Hundreds of Cameroonians Fleeing War
How did approximately 30 African migrants end up on a boat that capsized and sank off the St. Kitts & Nevis coast? The tragedy that unfolded in Caribbean waters earlier this week is just the latest chapter in the odd journey of hundreds of people from various African countries to Antigua & Barbuda.
2023-03-30 13:38:03 - VI News Staff
At least 13 people are still unaccounted for after the Jenna B capsized 12 nautical miles south of Conaree Village on the east coast of St. Kitts at around 3 am Tuesday morning. The Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force, assisted by cargo boats and cruise ships in the area, mounted a search and were able to rescue 16 people out of the water, two Antiguan nationals and 14 Cameroonians. Three of the 32 on board the boat were dead. Their identities, Kittitian officials say, have thus far not been determined.
Lt. Colonel Anthony Comrie, Commander of the St Kitts Nevis Defense Force, said the now-sunken vessel left the French island of Guadeloupe about a week ago and was moored in Antigua for some time. He said the vessel left Antigua on Monday evening and was reported missing the following morning. Reports in several press outlets indicate that the boat may have been attempting to reach the U.S. Virgin Islands. Subsequently, the St. Kitts police came to learn that the missing vessel from Antigua was the same one that capsized off its coast.
Gaston Brown, Antigua & Barbuda’s Prime Minister, acknowledged that most of those who boarded the Jenna B on Monday may be nationals of African countries, part of hundreds who ostensibly arrived as tourists but harbored intentions of onward migration to other countries.
“Two things appear clear from today’s tragic events. The first is that the Africans on board the vessel wanted to leave Antigua & Barbuda for another country. The second is that the owners and operators of a vessel in Antigua & Barbuda facilitated their transport on an illegal journey,” he remarked.
Mr. Browne has promised to launch a full investigation into the situation, including the involvement of any citizens and residents.