Ein Jahr nach Trumps Bootsstreik-Kampagne suchen Familien nach Antworten

A year into President Donald Trump's controversial boat strike campaign, families in Saint Lucia continue to seek answers about the disappearances of two fishermen, Joseph “Nathy” William and Ricky Joseph. The men vanished during a U.S.-led strike on a vessel in the Caribbean Sea, which the American military claimed targeted suspected narcotics traffickers. Their families, however, believe the operation may have mistakenly targeted innocent fishermen. The incident unfolded on February 13, 2026, when William and Joseph set out to fish. According to Rayshawn Charlery, William’s son, the pair were last seen together before they failed to return home. Charlery, who lives near the docks in Saint Lucia, has been unable to reach his father since that day. He described his father as an honest fisherman who worked hard to support his family, including two children and an elderly mother. “All I know is that my father is a fisherman, and he went out to sea and never made it home,” Charlery said in an interview with Al Jazeera’s Fault Lines program. The U.S. military released black-and-white drone footage of the strike, claiming it had killed suspected narcotics traffickers. However, local residents and families of the missing fishermen remain skeptical. They argue that the vessel struck may have been a fishing boat rather than a smuggling craft. For instance, Charlery suspects that the boat his father used might have been the target of the strike. Similarly, Ricky Joseph’s partner, Lucillia Charles, noted that her partner was the sole provider for their family, earning a few thousand dollars annually through fishing. She expressed frustration at being unable to obtain information about his fate. Since September 2, 2025, the Trump administration has conducted numerous airstrikes in the Caribbean and the Eastern Pacific, targeting vessels labeled as “narcoterrorists.” These operations have resulted in the deaths of more than 220 individuals, according to reports. In each case, there has been no formal identification of the victims, no trials, and no public efforts to locate the deceased. Families affected by these strikes have been left with little more than photographs of smoke and silence. Experts have raised concerns that these actions may constitute extrajudicial killings, which violate international law. Fault Lines investigated the cases of three missing fishermen, including William and Joseph, and interviewed their families to highlight the human toll of the campaign. Some families refused to speak publicly due to fears of retaliation. Local authorities in Saint Lucia have acknowledged the cases as missing persons incidents. Prime Minister Philip J Pierre stated that while local law enforcement is working to determine the circumstances surrounding the disappearances, the U.S. government has provided no information. “We still consider it a missing persons case, and our own law enforcement are trying their best to see if they can decide what happened. But as far as we’re concerned, the United States have given us no information on that one,” Pierre said. One notable piece of evidence recovered from the strike site is the wreckage of the boat believed to have been involved. Police have preserved the remains of the vessel, which Fault Lines was able to view in person. The wreckage, located behind a police building, showed signs of neglect, with weeds growing over it. The team also traced the boat’s owner, Cameron Tayliam, who confirmed ownership of the vessel. Tayliam said he was able to recover parts of the boat, though he declined to comment further on its involvement in the strike. As the families await clarity, the lack of transparency and accountability continues to fuel uncertainty. With no official statements from the U.S. government and limited access to information, the search for truth remains ongoing.