Tension is rising across Saint Lucia’s fishing sector after the United States military carried out another deadly strike on a vessel in the Caribbean Sea, killing three people and reportedly leaving at least one Saint Lucian believed to be among the dead.
US Southern Command confirmed that American forces conducted what it described as a “lethal kinetic strike” on Friday. The military said it was targeting individuals suspected of drug trafficking and referred to those killed as “narco‑terrorists”, though it has not publicly provided supporting evidence.
The attack forms part of a series of operations in the region that have reportedly killed at least 133 people since September 2025.
News of the latest strike has sparked anger and anxiety among Saint Lucian fishermen, many of whom now say they fear going out to sea.
Operations Manager of the Goodwill Fishermen Cooperative, Kaygianna Toussaint Charlery, told St. Lucia Times that concern within the fishing community has intensified over the weekend.
She explained that fishermen have long worried about being caught in regional security tensions because of shared waters. However, she said the possibility now feels more real.
“If the details are correct, it means that it has happened to one of them,” she said, noting that conversations within the sector have grown more urgent across Saint Lucia and the wider region.
Toussaint Charlery stressed that fishing is not simply a profession but a lifeline for many families.
“Fishing is not a hobby for our people. It is the livelihood of many low- to middle-income families in Saint Lucia. If they do not feel comfortable going out to sea, you will see fewer trips. Then the question becomes what happens to their income and their ability to put food on the table.”
She warned that fear could ripple beyond individual fishermen to affect national food supply and household stability.
Toussaint Charlery also addressed the concerns raised about boat modifications, noting that engine size and vessel standards are already governed by the Department of Fisheries. She urged fishers to remain compliant with licensing rules, identification requirements, and territorial limits so their activities remain defensible under the law.
Still, she acknowledged that compliance alone may not guarantee safety.
“When attacks are happening from the air without interception, it goes beyond whether fishers are operating legally. We are not sure how much intelligence informs these strikes.”
Toussaint Charlery criticised the approach taken by the United States, arguing that it undermines the sovereignty of Caribbean states.
“I feel the US tends to operate as if it is a law upon itself. We are sovereign countries, and there are more humane ways to deal with issues such as narcotics than disrupting families, livelihoods and entire economies.”
She called for cooperation rather than unilateral action, suggesting that intelligence sharing and regional partnerships would be more effective and less harmful.
“I am sure every government wants the same things: peace and legality. There must be common ground where we can work together.”
We all know very well this vessel was engaged in contraband.. and not genuine fisherman.. 2am boat has no running lights…no registration…what you doing 60 nm west off st.vincent …the US only strike boat with drugs… Is there a report of any missing boat…are the crew registered fishermen …
The us doesn’t target fishing vessels..2am boat is 60 NM west of st.vincent..smh
John, do you have inside information the rest of us don’t or are you on Donald Trump’s payroll? There is no publicly available information confirming that the vessel was transporting drugs. Even if it were true, that alone does not justify a lethal strike unless there was an immediate threat to life. If the boat was involved in illegal activity, those on board still had the right to due process and a fair trial.
John hush your mouth boy Imbecile. You have no evidence. And even if it was carrying drugs there is what’s called due process. Everyone must have their day in court. This is illegal and a war crime !!
What this boat may or may not have been carrying is irrelevant. The US has 2 options: they have committed a war crime or they have committed murder. This also applies to all previous such strikes. They are crimes.
If they were convinced the boat had drugs, intercept it, board it and show the evidence. No law allows those on board to be killed out of hand.
@John, there is something called due process it is practiced in the US and all civilized countries, it means that no one accused of a crime can be convicted without a court hearing. America is murdering Caribbean people claiming that they drug traffickers but drug traffickers in the US are given due process.
I totally agree with the last 2 comments. The PM is advocating for Lucians to desist from over staying on their visas but I’m yet to hear him say anything substantial on this murder by the Americans. I really want to know what deal these governments in our region made with these Americans. Why are they bending backwards for them. It seems we got independence from the British only to be controlled by America!! Smdh!!
@ Jayde & Coalpot —– you both are 100% correct.
@ Jayde & Coalpot —– you both are 100% correct.
I don’t understand how people just assume the US is acting legally and not murdering people without due process, but it is happening, and all we can do is watch and keep silent.
Do you people know the distance between this boat and the US coast? This boat was intercepted in the southern Caribbean; that is quite a distance from the USA.
EEUU no tiene derecho a asecinar a nadie existen las leyes para que?, si estaban narcotraficante debían de abordarlos y procesarlos con las pruebas en las manos
u all unalive each other all day in that two by four island. u all involved in all sorts of nonsense, men and women. so now u all get big fish. and now its complaints
The expensive luxurious “white” fishing boats are not being targetted at all!!! This is more than just drug control, if you wanted to really control drug movement the obvious thing to do is to firstly track and arrest multiple druglords across the region. Secondly deal with the demand on your own shores…once there is a demand, a supply will try to fulfill it! So this is a deeper social construct; one that is aligned with control, racism, colonialism and of course the work of the devil!
But the PM said he is not prevy to info about the shooting down of the boats. While I agree of the semi protest of our fisher men it adds to the delinquency of our industry. Politicians never secure it’s citizens interest only theirs.