It has been confirmed that the boat on which three Barbudan fishermen — who have been missing since December 2024 – had left to go on a fishing expedition, has been found.
“Give Thanks” – a 23-foot Pirogue was found approximately four miles west of Cedar Tree Point on Barbuda’s northwest coast, lying beneath the surface.
Shalico Charles, Vere Isaac, and Cleon Joseph were on board the vessel when it went missing.
A group of Barbudan divers stumbled upon the vessel, and subsequent verification dives were conducted by the Antigua and Barbuda Defence Force (ABDF) Coast Guard.
“Give Thanks” disappeared on December 1 during a routine fishing expedition amidst challenging weather conditions, including rough seas and strong winds, which had previously hampered search efforts.
Despite extensive searches led by the ABDF Coast Guard, there had been no signs of the missing fishermen.
Currently, efforts are underway to refloat the vessel and return it to Barbuda, with assistance from local divers. Authorities have yet to provide updates on whether further searches will be conducted for the missing crew.
