Police have confirmed that the captain of the boat which capsized and sank on Sunday, has been charged with “manslaughter by negligence” and will appear at the Grenville magistrate today, Thursday, 11 February 2016.
Charged is Kimei Richardson of Brunswick, Carriacou. He is one of six men who were jointly charged with possession of firearms and ammunition last month. The men were nabbed during a police operation on Wednesday, 13 January 2016, at Levera, St Patrick, which led to the discovery of 11 rounds of ammunition and 2 firearms.
Others charged in that raid were: Anwar Collins, Terrance Roberts, Shevon Williams and Sean Grant, all of River Sallee, St Patrick; and Delon McSween of Tivoli, St Andrew. The men were all placed on bail.
Though Richardson is the captain of the boat, Police have yet to disclose the owner of the 18-foot 75 horsepower fishing vessel, which encountered difficulties in the waters within the vicinity of Sugar Loaf island after departing Levera Beach around 7 pm.
Police said an alarm was raised sometime after 9 pm by one of the persons who swam ashore. Two of the Coast Guard vessels of the Royal Grenada Police Force were deployed immediately to the area to conduct search and rescue operations. Currently, 6 persons are accounted for, with 1 of those persons confirmed as dead. The body of 15-year-old Shonte Charles washed ashore on Monday. Police have not disclosed the names of the persons found and those still missing.
The RGPF is continuing its search and rescue operations, and is assisted by the Regional Security System (RSS), the Marine Unit of the Maurice Bishop International Airport (MBIA), as well as local fishermen.The National Disaster Management Agency (NaDMA) has also activated its emergency operation centre in River Sallee, St Patrick — the community most affected.