A recent United States military drone strike in Caribbean waters has triggered widespread alarm and economic disruption throughout Saint Lucia’s fishing industry, raising serious questions about sovereignty and military intervention in the region.
Fishermen across the island nation report plummeting morale and operational paralysis following the Trump administration’s confirmation of a ‘lethal kinetic strike’ conducted last Friday against suspected drug traffickers near the Grenadine island of Bequia. While official confirmation remains pending regarding potential Saint Lucian casualties, the proximity of the military action has created palpable anxiety among maritime workers.
For generations, fishing has served as both economic backbone and cultural cornerstone in Saint Lucia, sustaining coastal communities from the era of Arawak and Carib inhabitants to modern times. Now, this vital heritage faces unprecedented threat as fishermen hesitate to venture into traditional fishing grounds.
Mathaius ‘MJ’, a southern-based fisherman, expressed raw anger in interviews: ‘What Trump is doing is wickedness. We have loans to pay, children to feed. Now men are afraid to go out.’ He described the eerie transformation at Vieux Fort Fisheries Complex, where typically bustling docks now sit nearly empty—only two boats departed recently compared to normal activity levels.
The psychological impact extends beyond economic concerns. Fishermen traditionally launch around 3 a.m. to reach fish aggregating devices before marine life moves, but many now fear their predawn movements might be misinterpreted by military surveillance. Veteran fisherman Joseph Dalsan emphasized the cultural dimension: ‘My grandfather did this, his grandfather before him. Why kill people on the spot? If you suspect a boat, board it, search it, arrest people if they’re criminals.’
The Goodwill Fishermen’s Cooperative Society urges compliance with fishing regulations—including vessel specifications governed by the Department of Fisheries—as protective measures. Operations Manager Kaygianna Toussaint advised: ‘Fishers must ensure their operations are legal and above board so there is evidence to support them if anything happens.’ She specifically recommended remaining within verifiable territorial waters.
However, many fishermen doubt compliance alone can protect against aerial strikes that allow no opportunity for verification or response. The situation escalated further as the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force confirmed investigating the disappearance of local man Ricky Joseph, whose family fears he may have been caught in the strike. Assistant Commissioner Luke Defreitas acknowledged examining potential connections between Joseph’s disappearance and charred vessel remains recovered off Micoud.
The community’s outrage stems from perceived double standards, with Dalsan noting: ‘America does not kill their own like that. They have bigger problems to deal with.’ As anxiety mounts, Saint Lucian fisherfolk increasingly demand their government advocate for removal of US military operations from Caribbean waters.