Prime Minister Welcomes Fishermen Rescued After Nine Days Adrift at Sea 

By Admin. Updated 2:32 p.m., Monday, July 27, 2026, Atlantic Standard Time (GMT-4). 

Prime Minister Dr Godwin Friday has welcomed the five fishermen rescued after spending nine days adrift at sea, describing their survival as a remarkable testament to courage and resilience.

The Prime Minister met with the survivors at The Cobblestone Inn on Thursday, July 23, where he commended their discipline and determination throughout the life-threatening ordeal. He also expressed condolences following the death of one of the crew members, 66-year-old Anthony Murray of Trinidad and Tobago, who died after the group was rescued.

Friday acknowledged the emotional and psychological impact of the experience and assured the men that the Government of St Vincent and the Grenadines would continue to support them during their stay before they return home to their families.

The six-man crew had departed Tardieu Marina in Trinidad on July 7 aboard the Trinidad and Tobago-registered fishing vessel St Vincent VII for a fishing expedition. During the voyage, a fire severely damaged the vessel, forcing all six men to abandon ship and take refuge in a dinghy.

According to the Royal St Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force, the men were initially in good physical condition after leaving the burning vessel but spent nine days and nine nights drifting at sea before they were located by the oil tanker MV Marvel Kite.

Following the discovery, the tanker alerted the St Vincent and the Grenadines Coast Guard Service, which intercepted the vessel at approximately 9:06 p.m., about 11 nautical miles east-south-east of Kingstown. The Coast Guard later transported the five survivors to the Cruise Ship Terminal, arriving at around 11:30 p.m., before they were taken to the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital for medical assessment and treatment.

The survivors were identified as Shannon Mohammed, 40, Kevin Fonteillo, 47, and Alex Burnley, 39, all of Trinidad and Tobago; Eshawar Persard, 39, of Guyana; and Rupert Charles, 55, of St Vincent and the Grenadines.

Anthony Murray was later formally pronounced dead, and his body was removed pending further investigations.

During Thursday’s meeting, Prime Minister Friday also thanked the St Vincent and the Grenadines Coast Guard Service, the National Emergency Management Organisation (NEMO), healthcare workers and everyone involved in both the rescue operation and the care provided to the fishermen after their arrival.

Chief Fisheries Officer Jennifer Cruickshank-Howard, speaking on behalf of Minister of Fisheries, Marine and Land Conservation and Climate Resilience, Hon. Conroy Huggins, said the Ministry was grateful that the crew had been rescued and safely brought ashore.

“We are celebrating their lives and are grateful that they are here with us today,” Cruickshank-Howard said. “We wish them all the very best as they recover and prepare to return home to their families.”

Minister of Tourism, Civil Aviation and Sustainable Development, Dr Kishore Shallow, was also among those who welcomed the fishermen.

The Royal St Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force has also extended condolences to Murray’s relatives and loved ones, while recognising the coordinated efforts of the Coast Guard, the crew of the MV Marvel Kite, medical personnel and all others who assisted in the rescue operation.

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