Saint Lucia government says no bodies recovered in missing fishermen case
Key Points(5)
- The Government of Saint Lucia has defended its handling of the disappearance of two fishermen at sea in February 2026, saying the matter has been managed responsibly and in accordance with established procedures.
- The government’s statement came after Prime Minister Philip J.
- Pierre faced questions during the closing press conference of the 51st Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Heads of Government Meeting about the disappearance of Saint Lucian fisherman Ricky Joseph and another man.
- An Al Jazeera correspondent, Josh Rushing, senior correspondent for the documentary series Fault Lines , told Pierre he had spent the week in Saint Lucia investigating the case.
- The families of the missing men believe they died in a United States strike on a boat in February, although there has been no official confirmation of this.
The Government of Saint Lucia has defended its handling of the disappearance of two fishermen at sea in February 2026, saying the matter has been managed responsibly and in accordance with established procedures.
The government’s statement came after Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre faced questions during the closing press conference of the 51st Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Heads of Government Meeting about the disappearance of Saint Lucian fisherman Ricky Joseph and another man.
An Al Jazeera correspondent, Josh Rushing, senior correspondent for the documentary series Fault Lines, told Pierre he had spent the week in Saint Lucia investigating the case. The families of the missing men believe they died in a United States strike on a boat in February, although there has been no official confirmation of this.
Authorities continue to treat the matter as a missing persons investigation because no bodies have been recovered.
In a statement issued Thursday, the Office of the Prime Minister said the government remains deeply concerned about the situation and the impact on the affected families.
“In matters involving missing persons, the next of kin are the persons recognised under the law for the purposes of official communication and engagement,” the government said.
The statement added that the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force has been in contact with relevant authorities in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines as part of efforts to obtain and verify information related to the case.
“To date, there has been no confirmation of the recovery of any bodies connected to the missing individuals,” the government said.
During Wednesday’s press conference at Sandals Saint Lucia, Pierre said the government had requested information from United States authorities but had not received details about what occurred.
“We are very concerned about the loss of life for anybody. We’ve requested information from the United States, and we’ve not gotten any information as to what happened,” Pierre said.
He said local law enforcement agencies must continue their investigations while awaiting verified information.
“Our own law enforcement is trying its best to decipher what happened,” the prime minister said.
Pierre also rejected suggestions that the families of the missing men had been ignored.
“These families are our people. They are my people, so I’m very concerned about them. I’m sure more than you…. After this week, you’re going to be leaving; I’m here with them,” he told Rushing.
The government reiterated that it remains committed to working with the next of kin, coordinating with relevant authorities and ensuring that verified facts guide its actions and public statements.
The issue also sparked discussion among Caribbean leaders about the use of lethal force by governments.
Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley said that while international law recognises situations where force may be used, she supports efforts to resolve disputes peacefully.
“Morally, I would prefer not to see it,” Mottley said, adding that Barbados has consistently advocated for alternatives to violence in conflicts around the world.
