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.”
