By Kimberly Ramkhalawan
June 4, 2021
Trinidad and Tobago National Security officials are currently trying to establish relations with African state Mauritania, following the mysterious appearance of a pirogue sized boat with 14 decomposing bodies on the shores of a Tobago Beach last week.
Last Friday, a frenzy broke out among Tobagonian fishermen along the Belle Garden coast when a strangely shaped pirogue lacking an engine and sails appeared.
Upon investigation by nearby fishermen, it was noticed that bodies were piled on each other, with a decomposing stench coming out from the vessel. Originally it was thought to be a vessel from Venezuela, as in recent times there has been an influx of migrants coming from the Latin American state, and the shape of the boat seemed different from local pirogues. Further speculation was also given that it might have been another boat containing bodies that Guyana officials were trying to track since February this year. Back then, authorities from Guyana alerted the TT Coast Guard to look out for a boat that was last seen drifting along Guyana’s coast with several bodies. This was done despite collaborative efforts with energy companies, the US and Surinamese officials to relocate the vessel in hopes of bringing it to shore there. It was then believed that the vessel had disappeared and might have even sank, prompting the search to be called off. Guyana’s authorities had also suspected that the boat might have originated from the African coast based on its drift patterns.
However, TT investigators said the boat was seen to be carrying the registration number of AG 231 leading them to then believe the boat might have originated from Angola.
Jason Broomes, the fisherman who made the discovery in Tobago, said Coast Guard officials were alerted only to be told that they were unable to assist, as they too did not have a working vessel to assist in bringing the boat to shore.
Local fishermen instead banded together in bringing the vessel to shore, along with heavy equipment and rope used to tow the vessel. It’s said that the rope had broken with several attempts to drag the vessel out of the waters.
Currently, Trinidad and Tobago’s COVID-19 regulations prohibits the gathering of persons on its beaches, however, nearby villagers still flouted regulations to get a glimpse of the commotion, prompting police officers to clear them out sighting infringement which was punishable by hefty fines and charges.
Tobago Emergency Management Agency (TEMA), Chairman Allan Stewart, said the scene was a shocking one to the island, as he said investigators described the bodies as dismembered, and in advanced stage of decomposition. He was able to confirm that they were all male, and said to be clothed in what appeared to be green rain jackets and Puma track pants, while it was said that a GPS tracker and cellphone was also discovered. Investigators would later confirm that the device had in fact originated from Mauritania.
But the grim discovery along Clarke Bay, Belle Garden, located east of the island, has since prompted Tobagonians to call for an exorcism, as many villagers sees its arrival as an omen of things to come in the area. Villagers agree that the death of at least fifteen people, which were found to be decomposing onboard, meant that it was evil and troubled spirits that had arrived on its shores. They cited a voice note circulating on social media suggested that the fact that the rope had burst several times upon attempts to bring in the vessel was proof of something spiritually heavy also coming onshore. Villagers also agree that these spirits were already here and are certain will haunt the revenge by taking lives on the beach.
Archdeacon of the Tobago Anglican Church, the Venerable Father Philip Isaac agreed that one of its faith’s spiritual rituals would be useful in removing the troubling spirits, but more so bringing comfort to the concerned residents of the area.
Since then, Trinidad and Tobago’s National Security Minister, Fitzgerald Hinds, says the government was looking at repatriating the bodies or disposal of it locally once permission is granted. Meanwhile, Foreign Affairs Minister, Dr Amery Browne, says government was looking at making contact with officials at Mauritania via a link at the Permanent Mission in the United Nations. At present, Trinidad and Tobago does not have any diplomatic relations with the North African state.
The bodies were said to be in storage at the Scarborough Mortuary, where autopsies to find out the exact cause of death would be done. Concerns have been raised of its occupancy, as Trinidad and Tobago continues to grapple with a surge in COVID-19 deaths, and the need for mortuary space and cold storage. The Foreign Affairs Minister however could not give an estimated timeline as to when the process would be completed. Mauritania is a predominantly strong Islamic state, and while officials so far cannot ascertain the nationality of the bodies, it is expected that disposal of the bodies will be done according to Muslim rites.