A Union Island Family is now worried that they may never see their loved one again.
Adnis Alexander, a 30-year-old of Clifton, departed Union Island on December 27th, 2016 on board a yacht called Costa Mucho. Alexander worked as a crew member, assisting the owner and Captain Ed Brangman, a Bermudian national.
According to Alexander’s sister, following departure from Union Island, she was told by her brother that the vessel made stops in Bequia, mainland St Vincent, St Lucia, Dominica and to St Maarten, with the latter being the longest period of about three months.
Other reports, however, indicated that the yacht left St Maarten on the May 5th 2017for the island of Bermuda to be hulled before the summer time.
Another of Adnis’ sisters, reportedly the last family member he had spoken to on the May 4th, 2017, gave this account:
“Captain Brangman called the family on the 14th of May and told us Adnis went missing in the ocean. First, he told my mother it was on the 12th of May. After many questions from us, he changed the date and told her a different time again”.
The distraught sister said, “We have been given many different (kinds of) information and scenarios about the dynamics of the disappearance that we do not know what to believe anymore”.
“During Adnis’ last conversation with me, he said that the Captain was holding his passport and refused to give it to him so he can send money from his salary to his kids via Western Union”.
“He told us the Captain said to him, that he would have run off the yacht before arriving in Bermuda. Hence he was only going to give him back his passport on arrival in Bermuda. Since then we have not heard from him”.
The family of Adnis Alexander told News784 that they filed missing persons reports on the May 15th, 2017 with the police in Union Island and also on May 17th, 2017 with Police Headquarters in Kingstown.
Family members further told News784, that emails were sent to the police in Kingstown requesting assistance on the matter. However, according to information from family members, no response was given. The family then called Central Station and were informed that the email was received. News784 was not able to obtain copies of these emails.
Alexander’s sister told News784 that it is sad to see there was no interest shown to a Vincentian citizen who found himself in difficulty, or in this case, may have even lost his life.
“Police should investigate the matter, give information to his family without us begging them, it is their mission and duty to protect the citizens of Saint Vincent.” the family member lamented.
News784 understands that upon calling the Bermuda Police Force to report the incident and to try to get information about the boat’s Captain, they were told that Police there had already begun their investigation and were waiting for the SVG police to contact them.
News784 made a call to the Bermuda Police Force to speak with Sergeant Roberts who was handling the case and were told that he was not in Office; they indicated a return call would be made to us. We have yet to receive any further communication from the Bermuda Police.
Family members told News784 that they also contacted the Bermuda Search and Rescue Department of the Police Force and were told that no rescue operations were initiated because they were told by the yacht’s Captain that Alexander disappeared from the ship happened many days before it’s arrival in Bermuda. News784 has not been able to verify such information.
“There are so many (different) means of communication on the boat. To our knowledge, there is even a portable Satellite phone on board. So why did the Captain not radio for help?” the family asks.
“Ed Brangman, the Captain, also offered on our request, a small amount of money for the support of Adnis kids. This sum is too small and cannot even cover the purchase of food for his children for one year. We have refused the offer”. the family member stated.
“In our last conversation with the Captian about two weeks ago, he told us that the boat does not have any insurance for his crew”.
Union Island police verified to News784 that a report was made by Alexander’s family. The Police further stated that based on the information they obtained from the family, that the individual in question was not forced to leave Union Island, but went of his own free will.
Police said as to whether Alexander might’ve chosen to check into a different port and not look back, or whether he was being held against his will, is something that they are currently looking into.
The Police Public Relations Department in Kingstown told News784 on Tuesday afternoon at the time of our inquiry, that they had not received any communication on the matter from the Union Island Police. By Ernesto Cooke
