Two fishermen injured in alleged Coast Guard boat collisions off Jamaica

Two fishermen are trying to recover physically and financially after separate incidents at sea in which they say Coast Guard vessels struck their boats, destroyed equipment and left them needing medical care.

Sixty-year-old Nazarin Bagwandine said he was fishing at night in Mountain Harbor, St. Thomas, on April 23, 2026, when a Coast Guard vessel came upon his boat and ran over it. He said the impact sank the vessel, broke his left hand and four fingers, and left him needing pins. Bagwandine said he heard a vessel leaving the harbour and expected a routine check, but by the time he looked around, it was already over him. He said moving his head helped him avoid a more serious injury.

Lloyd Edwards, who said he has fished for 48 years, described a similar incident on May 7, 2026, at Morant Point, near Port Royal. He showed bruising and scrapes to his shoulder and said he ended up in the water after the vessel hit his boat. Edwards said jumping clear helped save his life.

Both men said they were told they could not be seen because their boats had no lights showing. Bagwandine rejected that explanation, saying he could not fish with hook and line in the dark without a light on his boat. Edwards said his light was off, but added that the incident happened about 6 a.m., when daylight had already come up.

The men said the collisions have left them unable to work and unsure how they will manage. Bagwandine said his boat went down, his engine was damaged and he was still seeking assistance. Edwards also said he asked for help after his boat was left adrift without an engine. Both fishermen said reports were made at the marine station, and a report obtained by TVJ confirmed a May 7, 2026 report.