The boat belonging to missing Bon Accord fisherman Brian "Pempo" Cox was found in waters off Grenada. This was disclosed by President of the All-Tobago Fisherfolk Association (ATFA) Junior Quashie.
In an interview with Guardian Media, Quashie said ATFA received an official report only eight days ago and they used their regional contacts to search. He said the boat was found three days ago in an area off Grenada known as No Man's Land.
"Yesterday afternoon I was in Trinidad, got a phone call from Grenada that fits the description of the boat that's missing from Tobago. I spoke to the guy and he said they found the boat submerged, engine down and what they did, they checked the boat and one of the sides was damaged. The boat not good, so the guy took off the engine and this distance is very far, it's 67 miles northwest of Grenada, which is very far down below Grenada by a place they call No Man's Land."
Quashie said the boat's engine, anchor and gas tank were retrieved and are currently in Grenada. He said efforts are being made to have them returned to Tobago.
Commenting on several news reports that Cox was in Venezuela and a ransom was being sought, Quashie said that was fake news
"On that Venezuela talk, we have too much of fake news on the media right now and on the Facebook page, so we got to be careful of what we are getting from Facebook. As far as I know, ATFA knows nothing about that, when we heard the information, I said to Mr Douglas, no, what I give to you is concrete evidence, if I call the guy in Grenada he will tell me exactly the same thing I said to you. We are dealing straight and not with fake news because it makes no sense," Quashie said.
He said if Cox was in Venezuela, the fisherfolk would have been alerted through their regional network.
Asked why ATFA took more than a month after the fisherman went missing to get involved, PRO Curtis Douglas said ATFA did not receive an official report and they did not want to intrude. He said when one is dealing with a sensitive situation they believe they can do it on their own.
"We cannot intrude, because we don't know the arrangement you have with the Coast Guard, we don't know the arrangements you have with the authorities, we cannot intrude. You now have to make a report, when you make a report to us, then we will be able to do the right thing, but we cannot intrude if the Foreign Minister or the Government taking care of it, we cannot step across the border.
"We have to be introduced and a report has to be made and then we could make the necessary arrangements and do the right thing to try to retrieve any vessel," Douglas said.
Contacted for a comment about the new revelation, one of Cox's family members, who preferred to remain anonymous said, they are still hopeful.
"Based on the information received, I had since communicated with the fisherman who allegedly came up on the boat and based on the information I received from him, I can safely identify that boat as that of my brother's. The way forward, I'm thinking of probing even further via hospital and police stations in Grenada, etc" the relative said.
Bon Accord fisherman Brian "Pempo" Cox left the Pigeon Point Beach on a fishing expedition more than 35 days ago. He was reported missing three days later. Several searches were conducted including a helicopter flight team sponsored by Area Representative for Canaan/Bon Accord Clarence Jacob.