Published 8 October 2021
Basseterre
Buckie Got It, St. Kitts and Nevis News Source
Source: LOOP NEWS
Two Dennery fishermen who have been missing at sea since June 9, 2021, have returned to St Lucia after several months in captivity.
According to reports, brothers Junior and Hansen St Rose went out on a fishing expedition when their vessel encountered difficulties.
“Luckily, we both had our life vests, and we were able to stay afloat,” one of the fishermen told Loop News Thursday.
Days after they went missing, their fishing vessel was discovered in Vieux Fort without its engine and steering wheel.
“Some Venezuelan fishing men found us approximately 71 miles off Saint Lucia,” the man recalled.
The men took them in, and they thought they were rescued but such hopes were quickly diminished.
“They held us captive and demanded ransom from our families. It was very traumatising for us; we didn’t know whether or not we would be killed; they had us working as slaves.”
“I ate food I would never eat in my life. Thank God our family was able to pay the ransom; if not, we would not be here today,” the man said. “Two days now, we are back home.”
According to him, they island-hopped to get back to Saint Lucia.
