At least 6 persons are dead due to boat strikes by the US in Caribbean waters in February of this year. According to the US, these strikes are part of their anti-narcotic operation. However, many have considered these extrajudicial killings murders. Little information is known about the identities of the men, but one journalist from Al Jazeera English has been investigating the deaths of two St. Lucians. In today's press conference, he got into a back-and-forth with St. Lucia's Prime Minister after he asked what justice the families should receive, and whether the US has immunity to kill citizens in the region. Here's how that went:
Philip Pierre, Prime Minister of St. Lucia / Chair of CARICOM
"We are very concerned about the loss of life for anybody, particularly these people who lost their lives at sea. We've requested information from the United States, and we've not got any information as to what happened. As I speak, we still consider it a missing persons case and our own reinforcements are trying their best if they can see what happened. As far as we are concerned, the United States have given us no information on that issue."
Reporter:
"Are you on the record saying that the United States is obstructing your investigation? It's been five months since that happened."
Philip Pierre:
"I'm not on record as saying that."
Reporter:
"What possible information could they provide to you?"
Philip Pierre:
"I'm on the record as saying that they've given us no information."
Reporter:
"What possible information could you get from the United States so you could proceed with your investigation? And I return to the families-they've told us you haven't contacted them. What should justice look like for these families?"
Philip Pierre:
"Let me assure you, these families are our people, they're my people, so I'm very concerned about them, I'm sure more than you. They're my people, I'm very concerned about them, but all I can tell you-I can only tell you what I know, and what I know is we have not gotten any information from the United States, that's what I know. But I'm very concerned about them, I'm sure I'm more concerned about them than you."
Reporter:
"I would just challenge that. I've spent the week with them, I can name their children. Can you?"
Philip Pierre:
"After this week you're going to be leaving; I'm here for them."
Kamla Persad-Bissessar, Leader of the Opposition, Trinidad and Tobago
"All our investigation, our local law enforcement, everything, nothing has given us any evidence of the alleged murders, as you're calling them-I'll come back to that in a moment-of the alleged killing of these persons being national citizens of Trinidad and Tobago."
Belize's delegation to the summit was led by Attorney General, Anthony Sylvester.
