Candle Light Vigil held for missing fishermen

By Terresa McCall
Reporter-SKNVibes.com

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – FAMILY members and a number of concerned individuals last evening (Jan. 8) held a Candle Light Vigil of Hope at the Basseterre Fisheries Complex for the three fishermen who went missing at sea.

The solemn event was organised by Lee Graham, President of the Basseterre Fishermen’s Association.

Richard ‘Elmond’ Hodge of New Road Housing Extension, Joseph ‘Joe’ Chambers of Ponds Pasture and Julius Alcendor, a Dominican who resides at New Guinea, left for sea on December 24, 2008 and have not been seen since. 

Efforts to find the men and the vessel in which they travelled have to this point proven unsuccessful. Notwithstanding, however, the men’s relatives, friends and acquaintances have expressed the ever-present hope that they are not deceased but yet alive and well.

Prayers were offered for the men’s safety, hymns were sung and persons whom they regularly came in contact or whose lives they have touched spoke at the well-attended vigil.

Among those in attendance were the Hon. Sam Condor, the Hon. Asim Martin, Glenroy Blanchette, Earl Clarke, Clement ‘Bouncing’ Williams and Dr. Mervin Laws.

Offering words of comfort, Minister Martin expressed sympathy to the family members of the men and asked that all present offer prayers on their behalf, recognising that the situation is of a particularly difficult nature.

Blanchette offered similar sentiments and expressed that fishing is a “very risky” profession, one which should be respected. He too asked for continued prayers for the missing men as well as their families for whom the ordeal has proven difficult. He also asked for prayers for the men’s safe return.

A gentleman, identified only as Eddie, who has been a man of the sea for numerous years, recounted the conch-diving experiences he shared with Chambers and reiterated the need for all who would be going out to sea to take along and ensure that they wear a lifejacket. This equipment, he said, could mean the difference between life and death.    ~~Adz:Left~~

Alcendor, who is also known in some quarters as Patient J, was described by his friends as being “dedicated”, “a good guy”, “generous”, “talkative” and a man who placed high value on family.

The service lasted for the better part of two hours.

Frank Farrell of the Fisheries Department told the gathering that they have not given up on the search for the men and informed that each and every lead they received is investigated, as they still have hope that the men are alive.