A woman who identified herself as the girlfriend of one of three fishermen missing at sea since Wednesday night has made an emotional on-air appeal, revealing that an engine cover believed to belong to the missing vessel was recovered by Urlings fishermen — and accused the Coast Guard of failing to respond when notified of its location.
Partner Missing Fisherman Shares
The three missing men are Carlton Cedric “Nagamootoo” Pitt, the vessel’s owner and captain; Devon Barrymore “Grease Gun” Prince, and Adrian Derrick “Ivan” Pryce. The men departed on a fishing trip last Wednesday and were expected back on Thursday morning but since then, there been no word from the trio. The Fishing Vessel, Faith P, a 28-foot white forward cabin launch powered by twin John Deere 150 horsepower diesel engines — has not been located. The situation as this stage is being described as critical.
The woman, who called Observer Radio’s Snake Pit programme on Saturday evening, alleged that from the very beginning there has been a series of failures in the official response to the men’s disappearance.
She said the Urlings fishing community had offered to assist in the search from as early as Thursday but was turned away by the Coast Guard. She said it was ultimately those same fishermen — acting on their own initiative — who located the engine cover on Saturday afternoon and reported its coordinates to authorities. She alleges that no one came.
“For yesterday the fishermen had offered to help. And they said no, they didn’t want any help. They were fine and they didn’t want the search to be disrupted. And now today the same set of guys that you didn’t want to come and help in the search, they are the ones who found the box. And there are two sets of prints I was told was on the cover,” she said.
The woman said she has been making phone calls since Thursday afternoon but received no meaningful assistance and she described the toll the ordeal has taken on her.
“One of the fishermen, he knows people in high places and it’s because he knows people in high places, that’s why we’ve been calling people in high places for help because they weren’t doing jack. And it’s upsetting me. I cry all day today, I cry – all day.”
“Cry until me head hu’t me, me belly hu’t me, me hand and dem cramp, me foot cramp… I couldn’t tell you what else; me almost pass out,” the woman said.
She remains hopeful that the men are alive, pointing out that both Devon Prince and Adrian Pryce are experienced at sea and that life jackets were on board. She said the discovery of the engine cover, and a cooler found the previous day, indicate the vessel encountered engine trouble and the men may still be drifting.
Anyone who sights the Fishing Vessel Faith P — a 28-foot white forward cabin launch, registration V2000DL, hull number 10,368 — or the three men onboard, is urged to contact the Coast Guard immediately.
