On the opening day of the official public inquiry into the fatal July boat collision off Saint Lucia’s Anse Cochon coast, multiple key witnesses have openly admitted to a series of dangerous safety lapses that preceded the crash which killed four people and left multiple others injured. The July 18 collision between two leisure vessels, Ocean Angel and Cazorla Jr, in the waters off Anse La Raye left one boat destroyed and the other submerged, claiming the life of Ocean Angel crew member Tyrone Paul alongside three passengers. The ongoing Commission of Inquiry, convened to unpack the causes of the disaster and propose regulatory reforms, heard damning testimony from senior operators of both vessels on its first day.
Delan Nicholas, managing director of Ocean Angel Boat Tours, told the commission he took over command of the vessel mid-voyage after Tyrone Paul initially captained the trip from Soufrière. He confirmed that despite having life jackets on board the vessel, no safety briefing was delivered to any passengers, and the flotation devices were never distributed before the crash. He also acknowledged that the boat’s required navigation lights were switched off for the entire first leg of the journey from Soufrière to Anse Mamin, and were only activated after he took the helm. In line with maritime safety regulations, all departing vessels must notify the Soufrière lighthouse of their departure – a requirement Nicholas admitted he failed to meet. While he maintained the vessel was seaworthy and all required equipment was on board, he conceded the mandatory notification step should not have been skipped.
Survivor testimony from the voyage painted a picture of consistent, unaddressed risk. Roxanne Bonaparte, a passenger who could not swim, told the inquiry she specifically requested a life jacket before the trip, but was reassured by the captain that no flotation device was needed. She confirmed in her testimony that her police statement, given days after the collision, accurately reflected her experience: she did not see a single passenger wearing a life jacket during the entire journey, could not spot any navigation lights, and did not receive any safety instructions when boarding. Bonaparte added that the vessel was traveling far faster than she had experienced on previous trips with the same operator, to the point that the bow of the boat blocked forward visibility. When asked by Commission Chairman, retired Justice Mario Michel, why she chose to board an unlit vessel traveling at night, she explained she had taken night trips with Delan Nicholas before, and the vessel always had working lights on those occasions, so she did not anticipate danger.
Elias Nicholas, a fisherman and cousin of Delan Nicholas who was also a passenger on Ocean Angel, corroborated this testimony, confirming he did not see any navigation lights active on the vessel before the collision. He also noted that while initial captain Tyrone Paul operated the boat at a moderate speed, Delan Nicholas increased speed after taking the helm. After the crash, he grabbed a nearby life jacket and climbed onto the overturned hull of Ocean Angel, before being rescued and transferred to hospital. He told the inquiry he suffered a broken leg and head injury in the collision, waking up later at Soufrière Hospital.
Testimony from the owner of the second involved vessel, Cazorla Jr, confirmed that safety protocols were ignored on that boat as well. Irenus Pascal, owner of Cazorla Jr, told the commission his regular licensed captain was unavailable on the night of the collision, so unlicensed operator Tyson Hippolyte stepped in to command the vessel. Pascal confirmed that Cazorla Jr also did not deliver any safety briefing to passengers, and also failed to notify the Soufrière lighthouse of the vessel’s departure, describing compliance with these rules as an afterthought for local non-commercial voyages. He told the commission that for local trips with small groups, safety rules are not treated seriously, calling the practice a common “we thing” among local mariners. Pascal maintained that Cazorla Jr did have its navigation lights active on the night, but the crew never spotted the approaching Ocean Angel and received no warning of an oncoming vessel. He also confirmed the vessel was traveling faster than its usual speed on the return leg, and passengers had already asked the captain to slow down before the collision.
The Commission of Inquiry was officially established by Acting Governor General Felix Finisterre on September 1, 2026, with a broad mandate that goes beyond determining the causes of this specific crash. The body is also tasked with reviewing Saint Lucia’s existing maritime safety legislation, evaluating standard operating procedures for commercial and leisure maritime activity, and proposing evidence-based recommendations to inform the drafting of a new, updated maritime act that can prevent similar fatal incidents. Investigating officer Luciano Guard also appeared on the opening day to present witness statements and outline the progress of the official probe. After hearing testimony from five witnesses and the lead investigating officer, the first day of hearings adjourned at 7:30 p.m., with proceedings set to continue the following Wednesday.