KINGSTOWN, Vincent, May 27, CMC – Police Tuesday said that they had recovered passports from the West African state of Mali, as investigations continue into the discovery of a vessel that washed ashore in the area of Little Bay, Cherry Hill, on the island of Canouan on Monday, with what appeared to be decomposed human remains onboard.
In a statement, updating the population on the probe, the police said they recalled receiving a report Monday regarding a suspicious vessel found along the coastline.
Officers from the Canouan Police Station responded and, upon inspection, the remains of eleven persons were discovered onboard. The vessel, measuring 45 feet in length, 12 feet in width, and 6 feet in depth, was found grounded in the area.
“The remains were in an advanced state of decomposition, and some were not fully intact. Several passports were recovered at the scene, which appear to be from the Republic of Mali, a country located in West Africa. At this stage, no official identification of the deceased has been confirmed, and the investigation remains ongoing,” the police statement said.
The police said that they are continuing to “work closely with regional and international partners to verify the origins of the vessel and the identities of the individuals onboard.
“The remains have since been transported to mainland St. Vincent, where they are being kept at the Kingstown mortuary pending further forensic and investigative procedures.”
The police said that “this incident is deeply concerning, and we understand the public’s interest in the matter.
“We assure you that the RSVGPF (Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force) is treating this investigation with the utmost seriousness and sensitivity. We are committed to pursuing every lead and ensuring that all appropriate protocols are followed.”
The police are asking members of the public for “patience and cooperation as this complex investigation unfolds” and are urging anyone with information that may assist the investigation to contact them.
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