The prime minister says St Vincent did not give US permission for deadly boat attacks
San Jose, Costa Rica — Prime Minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines said on Tuesday that his government had not sanctioned the US for a recent attack on an alleged drug boat in local waters that killed three people.
Prime Minister godwin friday Said in a press conference
Prime Minister godwin friday Said in a press conference that his administration learned about the deadly February 13 strike Through social media and online reports.
“There has been no direct communication with us regarding the attacks,” he said, adding that Caribbean leaders are concerned. “It was agreed that this is a serious matter because of the potential danger it poses to our people going about their normal business. … People travelling by water want to know they are safe.”
The US military said three people were killed in the attacks but did not confirm their identities.
A relative of a boat captain recently from St Lucia told the associated press They believe 35-year-old Ricky Joseph, a father of four, died in the attack, as he is missing and was taken away in a boat, as shown in photos posted on social media after the attack.
Caribbean leaders recently met to talk among themselves about the safety and security concerns of US drone strikes “in our waters”, it said Friday.
He said Caribbean leaders who met for a regional summit in St Kitts last week, which US Secretary of State Marco Rubio attended, “agreed that this is a serious matter that will affect us all” and that they would raise it with US officials.
The attacks began in early September and have killed at least 151 people as the administration of US President Donald Trump targets what it calls “narco terrorists” in small vessels.
Caribbean officials also discussed with Rubio a request to use St Vincent and other Caribbean countries as transit points for migrants stopped at the U.S. They will remain at the southern border until they can be returned to their countries of origin, it said Friday.
“I stressed that for any such transit programme to go forward…for a country of our size, with our borders, it must be clearly defined, transparent and manageable,” he said on Friday.
He said he requested data about the number of people in transit and the specific time frame spent at transit points because he questioned what the legal status of such migrants would be in the Caribbean and what would happen if they could not be sent back.
“The objective is to have a coordinated approach,” Friday said, noting that there is free movement of people within the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States.
Friday, said Caribbean leaders at last week’s summit. Also agreed to send humanitarian aid to Cuba “To help alleviate the current serious situation.”
The secretariat of the 15-member regional trade bloc CARICOM will coordinate the effort, he said.
