Authorities in St Vincent and the Grenadines have launched a major investigation after a vessel carrying the decomposed remains of at least 11 people washed ashore on the small Eastern Caribbean island of Canouan earlier this week.The Royal St Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force (RSVGPF) said it received a report around 10.45 am on Monday regarding a suspicious vessel found near Little Bay and Cherry Hill. Officers from the local Canouan police station responded and discovered the remains aboard the 45-foot-long boat.According to the RSVGPF, the bodies were in an “advanced state of decomposition,” with some not fully intact. The exact cause of death remains unknown, and authorities have not yet confirmed the identities of the deceased.Passports suggest West African linkInvestigators recovered several passports from the vessel, which appear to originate from the West African nation of Mali. However, police stressed that no official identifications have been made, and forensic work is ongoing.The human remains have since been transported to St Vincent and are being held at the Kingstown mortuary for further analysis.“This incident is deeply concerning, and we understand the public’s interest in the matter,” the RSVGPF said in a statement. “We assure you that the RSVGPF is treating this investigation with the utmost seriousness and sensitivity.”Authorities also noted that they are collaborating with regional and international partners in efforts to trace the boat’s origin and determine how and why it ended up adrift in the Caribbean.Ongoing crisis in Mali raises concernsWhile the exact circumstances surrounding the tragic journey remain unclear, the discovery comes amid worsening instability in Mali, a landlocked country in West Africa facing severe security and humanitarian crises.The US state department has issued a Level 4 “Do Not Travel” advisory for Mali since July 2023, citing ongoing threats of terrorism, kidnapping, and violent crime.“Terrorist and armed groups continue plotting kidnappings and attacks in Mali,” the advisory notes, warning of attacks on public and diplomatic spaces frequently visited by foreigners.Questions remain as investigation continuesIt is not yet known how long the vessel had been at sea, what conditions the passengers faced, or what led to the tragic loss of life. Authorities have not ruled out the possibility that the boat was part of a migration attempt gone wrong, a concern echoed by officials and international observers amid a growing number of perilous sea journeys in recent years.The RSVGPF said it is committed to “pursuing every lead” and ensuring that “all appropriate protocols are followed” as it works to uncover the full story behind the grim discovery.
