Fishermen lost at sea - Fishing community mourns missing four

THE OLD Harbour Bay fishing village, south west St. Catherine, has been plunged into mourning, following the disappearance of four fishermen, who were among a group of nine who left for sea last week Thursday.

The other five were rescued at day-break yesterday by fishermen from Manchioneal, east Portland. The boat's captain Winston Bailey, Charles Daley and two others identified only as "Brownman" and "Gargon", are still missing.

The police identified the rescued men as Abraham Alexander, Henry Richards, Kevin Fearon, William Mc-Donald and Preston Daley, who is the brother of Charles.

Reports are that the nine men left in a 38-foot fibreglass boat to fish, but nobody knows for sure where they were headed.

It is reported that their boat drifted and later capsized and four of the nine fishermen have been missing since. Up to late yesterday evening a Jamaica Defence Force search-and-rescue team was still looking for them.

The fishing village has experienced tragedy in the past.

On October 18 last year, three fishermen from Old Harbour Bay went to sea and never returned. On February 14, 1999 a dozen teenagers from the community went on a fishing excursion. Tragedy struck and eight perished.

In February 1993 one of two fishermen from that beach went on a fishing trip, but only one made it back alive. In April 1991, six more fishermen from the area went to sea, but not one returned.

Authorities over the years have been appealing to fishermen to ensure that they are properly equipped when they go to sea but few ever carry the necessary safety equipment.

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