Latest news with #JuniorSimmons
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Police: 11 bodies found in Caribbean boat likely African refugees
May 28 (UPI) -- The bodies of 11 people believed to be African migrants were discovered inside a boat in the St. Vincent and the Grenadines island chain, local police confirmed. "Several passports were recovered at the scene which appear to be from the Republic of Mali" in northwest Africa, said police Superintendent Junior Simmons. On Monday, island police received a call around 10:45 a.m. local time to report a 45-foot vessel that washed on shore in Little Bay on the island of Canouan to the 35 island archipelago's south where civilians of African descent represent some 66% of the Caribbean island nation's population. "The remains were in an advanced state of decomposition, and some were not fully intact," Simmons said in a video. According to officials, the bodies were transported to the mainland island St. Vincent for further forensic analysis at Kingstown mortuary. "This incident is deeply concerning, and we understand the public's interest in the matter," officials in the Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force said Tuesday in a Facebook post, adding they continue to work closely with regional and international partners to verify the vessel's origin and the identity of those onboard. This followed a number of other similar events in recent months involving fleeing foreign refugees likely seeking refuge from war-torn torn nations in the hands of dictatorial regimes. Two vessels sank on May 9 while transporting more than 500 refugees via south Asia from Bangladesh and Myanmar that saw only 87 survivors. In January, 19 bodies were discovered on a boat in the nearby St. Kitts and Nevis islands which officials say likely was at sea for an extended period due to the advanced stages of bodily decomposition, with some victims also likely from west Africa's Mali more than 3,800 miles across the Atlantic Ocean. The UN's migration agency in March reported nearly 9,000 people died on migration routes last year, which marked its deadliest year on record. A United Nations spokesperson stated the Malian migrants probably tried to escape a "cycle of violence" and aimed for the Canary Islands, but that it was "highly unlikely" they were shooting for the Caribbean where they ended up drifting to, given the boat's small size. "We cannot talk on behalf of those who have passed away, but our best guess is that they wanted to take the Atlantic route to get to the Canary Islands," Eujin Byun, a UN refugee agency spokesperson, told the BBC Wednesday. Meanwhile, an investigation is underway to officially confirm the identity of all 11 bodies. "Desperate people make desperate decisions," concluded the UN's Byun.
UPI
28-05-2025
- UPI
Police: 11 bodies found in Caribbean boat likely African refugees
"Several passports were recovered at the scene which appear to be from the Republic of Mali" in northwest Africa, police Superintendent Junior Simmons said Wednesday. "The remains were in an advanced state of decomposition, and some were not fully intact," he added. Photo By Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force May 28 (UPI) -- The bodies of 11 people believed to be African migrants were discovered inside a boat in the St. Vincent and the Grenadines island chain, local police confirmed. "Several passports were recovered at the scene which appear to be from the Republic of Mali" in northwest Africa, said police Superintendent Junior Simmons. On Monday, island police received a call around 10:45 a.m. local time to report a 45-foot vessel that washed on shore in Little Bay on the island of Canouan to the 35 island archipelago's south where civilians of African descent represent some 66% of the Caribbean island nation's population. "The remains were in an advanced state of decomposition, and some were not fully intact," Simmons said in a video. According to officials, the bodies were transported to the mainland island St. Vincent for further forensic analysis at Kingstown mortuary. "This incident is deeply concerning, and we understand the public's interest in the matter," officials in the Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force said Tuesday in a Facebook post, adding they continue to work closely with regional and international partners to verify the vessel's origin and the identity of those onboard. This followed a number of other similar events in recent months involving fleeing foreign refugees likely seeking refuge from war-torn torn nations in the hands of dictatorial regimes. Two vessels sank on May 9 while transporting more than 500 refugees via south Asia from Bangladesh and Myanmar that saw only 87 survivors. In January, 19 bodies were discovered on a boat in the nearby St. Kitts and Nevis islands which officials say likely was at sea for an extended period due to the advanced stages of bodily decomposition, with some victims also likely from west Africa's Mali more than 3,800 miles across the Atlantic Ocean. The UN's migration agency in March reported nearly 9,000 people died on migration routes last year, which marked its deadliest year on record. A United Nations spokesperson stated the Malian migrants probably tried to escape a "cycle of violence" and aimed for the Canary Islands, but that it was "highly unlikely" they were shooting for the Caribbean where they ended up drifting to, given the boat's small size. "We cannot talk on behalf of those who have passed away, but our best guess is that they wanted to take the Atlantic route to get to the Canary Islands," Eujin Byun, a UN refugee agency spokesperson, told the BBC Wednesday. Meanwhile, an investigation is underway to officially confirm the identity of all 11 bodies. "Desperate people make desperate decisions," concluded the UN's Byun.
TimesLIVE
28-05-2025
- TimesLIVE
Eleven bodies found in beached boat in eastern Caribbean 'from Mali'
Police in St Vincent and the Grenadines on Tuesday said they found a boat beached on the shore of Canouan island carrying the remains of what they believed to be 11 people who may be from Mali, though investigations into their identities are ongoing. "Several passports were recovered at the scene which appear to be from the Republic of Mali," superintendent Junior Simmons said in a video message. "The remains were in an advanced state of decomposition, and some were not fully intact." Local police received on Monday morning around 10.45am (2.45pm GMT) a report about the 14m vessel that washed ashore in Little Bay on Canouan, to the south of the archipelago Caribbean nation. Simmons said the remains had been transported to mainland St Vincent pending further forensic and investigative procedures. In nearby St Kitts and Nevis, authorities in January said they had discovered a vessel where they found the bodies of 19 people who they estimated had been at sea for a long period due to the advanced stage of decomposition. They also found identifications suggesting some of those passengers also came from Mali, a landlocked West African nation some 6,200km east across the Atlantic Ocean. The Atlantic Ocean off the West African coast is among the world's most dangerous maritime routes, with strong westerly currents and winds capable of driving vessels far off course.
The Advertiser
28-05-2025
- The Advertiser
Eleven bodies found on boat in eastern Caribbean
Police have found a boat beached on the Grenadine island of Canouan carrying the remains of what they believed to be 11 people who may be from Mali. "Several passports were recovered at the scene which appear to be from the Republic of Mali," Superintendent Junior Simmons said in a video message. "The remains were in an advanced state of decomposition, and some were not fully intact." Local police received a report about the 13-metre vessel that washed ashore in Little Bay on Canouan, to the south of the archipelago Caribbean nation. Simmons said the remains had been transported to mainland St Vincent pending further forensic and investigative procedures. In nearby St Kitts and Nevis, authorities in January said they had discovered a vessel where they found the bodies of 19 people who they estimated had been at sea for a long period due to the advanced stage of decomposition. They also found identifications suggesting some of those passengers also came from Mali, a landlocked West African nation some 6200km east across the Atlantic Ocean. The Atlantic Ocean off the West African coast is among the world's most dangerous maritime routes, with strong westerly currents and winds capable of driving vessels far off course. Police have found a boat beached on the Grenadine island of Canouan carrying the remains of what they believed to be 11 people who may be from Mali. "Several passports were recovered at the scene which appear to be from the Republic of Mali," Superintendent Junior Simmons said in a video message. "The remains were in an advanced state of decomposition, and some were not fully intact." Local police received a report about the 13-metre vessel that washed ashore in Little Bay on Canouan, to the south of the archipelago Caribbean nation. Simmons said the remains had been transported to mainland St Vincent pending further forensic and investigative procedures. In nearby St Kitts and Nevis, authorities in January said they had discovered a vessel where they found the bodies of 19 people who they estimated had been at sea for a long period due to the advanced stage of decomposition. They also found identifications suggesting some of those passengers also came from Mali, a landlocked West African nation some 6200km east across the Atlantic Ocean. The Atlantic Ocean off the West African coast is among the world's most dangerous maritime routes, with strong westerly currents and winds capable of driving vessels far off course. Police have found a boat beached on the Grenadine island of Canouan carrying the remains of what they believed to be 11 people who may be from Mali. "Several passports were recovered at the scene which appear to be from the Republic of Mali," Superintendent Junior Simmons said in a video message. "The remains were in an advanced state of decomposition, and some were not fully intact." Local police received a report about the 13-metre vessel that washed ashore in Little Bay on Canouan, to the south of the archipelago Caribbean nation. Simmons said the remains had been transported to mainland St Vincent pending further forensic and investigative procedures. In nearby St Kitts and Nevis, authorities in January said they had discovered a vessel where they found the bodies of 19 people who they estimated had been at sea for a long period due to the advanced stage of decomposition. They also found identifications suggesting some of those passengers also came from Mali, a landlocked West African nation some 6200km east across the Atlantic Ocean. The Atlantic Ocean off the West African coast is among the world's most dangerous maritime routes, with strong westerly currents and winds capable of driving vessels far off course. Police have found a boat beached on the Grenadine island of Canouan carrying the remains of what they believed to be 11 people who may be from Mali. "Several passports were recovered at the scene which appear to be from the Republic of Mali," Superintendent Junior Simmons said in a video message. "The remains were in an advanced state of decomposition, and some were not fully intact." Local police received a report about the 13-metre vessel that washed ashore in Little Bay on Canouan, to the south of the archipelago Caribbean nation. Simmons said the remains had been transported to mainland St Vincent pending further forensic and investigative procedures. In nearby St Kitts and Nevis, authorities in January said they had discovered a vessel where they found the bodies of 19 people who they estimated had been at sea for a long period due to the advanced stage of decomposition. They also found identifications suggesting some of those passengers also came from Mali, a landlocked West African nation some 6200km east across the Atlantic Ocean. The Atlantic Ocean off the West African coast is among the world's most dangerous maritime routes, with strong westerly currents and winds capable of driving vessels far off course.
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Eleven bodies found on boat in eastern Caribbean
Police have found a boat beached on the Grenadine island of Canouan carrying the remains of what they believed to be 11 people who may be from Mali. "Several passports were recovered at the scene which appear to be from the Republic of Mali," Superintendent Junior Simmons said in a video message. "The remains were in an advanced state of decomposition, and some were not fully intact." Local police received a report about the 13-metre vessel that washed ashore in Little Bay on Canouan, to the south of the archipelago Caribbean nation. Simmons said the remains had been transported to mainland St Vincent pending further forensic and investigative procedures. In nearby St Kitts and Nevis, authorities in January said they had discovered a vessel where they found the bodies of 19 people who they estimated had been at sea for a long period due to the advanced stage of decomposition. They also found identifications suggesting some of those passengers also came from Mali, a landlocked West African nation some 6200km east across the Atlantic Ocean. The Atlantic Ocean off the West African coast is among the world's most dangerous maritime routes, with strong westerly currents and winds capable of driving vessels far off course.
