By Elesha George
What is likely the last search for missing fishermen Shalico Charles, Vere Isaac, and Cleon Joseph will take place today but after days of searching hopes are low.
The men — boat owner Shalico Charles, Captain Vere Isaac, and crew member Cleon Joseph—set out on a routine fishing trip early Sunday morning aboard the 23-foot boat Give Thanks.
Search and rescue efforts, led by the Coast Guard and supported by the Regional Security System (RSS), began Sunday night and extended to neighbouring islands earlier this week.
Residents of Barbuda gathered for a prayer vigil on Tuesday, hoping for a miracle.
Barbuda Council Chairman Devon Warner, who joined the search, said wind and current patterns suggested the men could have drifted toward Barbuda’s northern coast. However, by the end of Wednesday’s search, no debris or signs of the boat had been spotted.
The search extended to the waters around St Martin on Tuesday and included outreach to nearby islands such as St Kitts, Anguilla, and St Barts as local authorities urged them to be vigilant for any clues.
The efforts were coordinated by Barbuda MP Trevor Walker and guided by the Antigua and Barbuda Coast Guard.
