Caribbean leaders are raising concerns after a recent U.S. strike on a suspected drug-smuggling vessel in regional waters reportedly killed three people, with officials in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines saying they were not informed ahead of the operation.
Prime Minister Godwin Friday said Tuesday that his government did not grant authorization for the February 13 strike, which took place in waters near the country. Speaking at a press conference, Friday said his administration first learned of the deadly incident through social media and online reports rather than through official communication from the United States.
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“There has been no direct communication with respect to the strikes with us,” Friday said. “It was agreed that this is a serious matter because of the risk that it poses potentially to our people going about their normal business. … People plying the waters want to know that they’re safe.”
The U.S. military confirmed that three people were killed in the strike but did not publicly identify the victims.
Relatives of a missing boat captain from Saint Lucia believe he may have been among those killed. According to family members who spoke with The Associated Press, 35-year-old Ricky Joseph, a father of four, has not been heard from since departing on a vessel believed to be similar to the one shown in images circulating online after the strike.
Friday said the issue of U.S. drone operations in Caribbean waters was recently discussed among regional leaders amid growing safety and sovereignty concerns. He noted that Caribbean officials had raised the matter during a regional summit held last week in Saint Kitts and Nevis, which was attended by Marco Rubio.
According to Friday, leaders at the meeting agreed that the situation warranted further engagement with U.S. authorities.
“Caribbean leaders agreed that this was a serious matter that will affect all of us,” he said, noting that the issue would be pursued through diplomatic channels.
The strikes form part of a broader security campaign by the administration of Donald Trump targeting maritime drug trafficking in the Caribbean region. U.S. officials have described those being targeted as “narcoterrorists” operating small vessels used to transport illegal narcotics. According to available reports, the operations began in early September and have resulted in at least 151 deaths.
During discussions with Rubio, Caribbean leaders also addressed a U.S. proposal to use countries such as Saint Vincent and other regional states as temporary transit points for migrants intercepted at the U.S. southern border while arrangements are made for their repatriation.
Friday said his government expressed caution about the idea, stressing that any such arrangement would need to be clearly defined and manageable for small island states with limited resources.
“I emphasized that for any such transit program to proceed… that it must be clearly defined, transparent and manageable for… a country of our size, with our limitations,” he said.
The prime minister added that he requested detailed data on the number of migrants who could be transferred through Caribbean countries and how long they might remain in transit facilities. He also raised questions about the legal status of migrants while in Caribbean territories and what would happen if individuals could not be repatriated to their home countries.
“The aim is to have a coordinated approach,” Friday said, noting that the free movement of people within the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States means policies adopted by one member state could have implications for others.
In addition to the security discussions, Friday said Caribbean leaders at the summit agreed to send humanitarian assistance to Cuba to help ease the country’s current economic and humanitarian challenges.
He noted that the effort will be coordinated through the secretariat of Caribbean Community, the 15-member regional trade and cooperation bloc.
Caribbean leaders are raising concerns after a recent U.S. strike on a suspected drug-smuggling vessel in regional waters reportedly killed three people, with officials in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines saying they were not informed ahead of the operation.
Prime Minister Godwin Friday said Tuesday that his government did not grant authorization for the February 13 strike, which took place in waters near the country. Speaking at a press conference, Friday said his administration first learned of the deadly incident through social media and online reports rather than through official communication from the United States.
“There has been no direct communication with respect to the strikes with us,” Friday said. “It was agreed that this is a serious matter because of the risk that it poses potentially to our people going about their normal business. … People plying the waters want to know that they’re safe.”
The U.S. military confirmed that three people were killed in the strike but did not publicly identify the victims.
Relatives of a missing boat captain from Saint Lucia believe he may have been among those killed. According to family members who spoke with The Associated Press, 35-year-old Ricky Joseph, a father of four, has not been heard from since departing on a vessel believed to be similar to the one shown in images circulating online after the strike.
Friday said the issue of U.S. drone operations in Caribbean waters was recently discussed among regional leaders amid growing safety and sovereignty concerns. He noted that Caribbean officials had raised the matter during a regional summit held last week in Saint Kitts and Nevis, which was attended by Marco Rubio.
According to Friday, leaders at the meeting agreed that the situation warranted further engagement with U.S. authorities.
“Caribbean leaders agreed that this was a serious matter that will affect all of us,” he said, noting that the issue would be pursued through diplomatic channels.
The strikes form part of a broader security campaign by the administration of Donald Trump targeting maritime drug trafficking in the Caribbean region. U.S. officials have described those being targeted as “narcoterrorists” operating small vessels used to transport illegal narcotics. According to available reports, the operations began in early September and have resulted in at least 151 deaths.
During discussions with Rubio, Caribbean leaders also addressed a U.S. proposal to use countries such as Saint Vincent and other regional states as temporary transit points for migrants intercepted at the U.S. southern border while arrangements are made for their repatriation.
Friday said his government expressed caution about the idea, stressing that any such arrangement would need to be clearly defined and manageable for small island states with limited resources.
“I emphasized that for any such transit program to proceed… that it must be clearly defined, transparent and manageable for… a country of our size, with our limitations,” he said.
The prime minister added that he requested detailed data on the number of migrants who could be transferred through Caribbean countries and how long they might remain in transit facilities. He also raised questions about the legal status of migrants while in Caribbean territories and what would happen if individuals could not be repatriated to their home countries.
“The aim is to have a coordinated approach,” Friday said, noting that the free movement of people within the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States means policies adopted by one member state could have implications for others.
In addition to the security discussions, Friday said Caribbean leaders at the summit agreed to send humanitarian assistance to Cuba to help ease the country’s current economic and humanitarian challenges.
He noted that the effort will be coordinated through the secretariat of Caribbean Community, the 15-member regional trade and cooperation bloc.
