“The worst was mental torture,” says Patricia Joseph. Flashes trauma as she wondered what the last moments of her mother were. An infinite state of uncertainty. Six years after the mysterious disappearance of her mother, Patricia still asks a characteristic orange raincoat that Hyacinth Gage (74) wore on the day of disappearance, hoping to contain a trail.
Hyacinth is just one among many people on the Caribbean island Antigui that disappear without a trace. Some call it an epidemic, and another crisis. Only in the last two years, at least nine people have disappeared, the BBC writes.
That day in May 2019. he started quite usual. Otherwise lively and independent Hyacinth went to a routine examination to the hospital, but she did not return. After that, no one saw. It has launched unsuccessful pursuit throughout the island and desperate calls for help. “My sister and I became detective, we went in search of traces. I went to the hospital and started asking questions,” Patricia explains.
She managed to confirm that her mother did not appear at the ECG, although he did the scheduled blood tests. It turned out that he briefly surrendered his purse to another patient for storage, but she did not return anymore. The purse found insurance morrow. The family also managed to find a driver who said that he drove Hyacinth to the place not far from the hospital.
“The police were angry with us for the investigation and told us to stop. We irritated them with their numerous issues. In the end, we had to retreat,” Patricia recalls.
The anniversary are especially painful: 6. March would be Hyacinthin 80. Birthday. The family planned a great celebration for a long time. Instead, Patricia took a day off to spend it in peaceful thinking.
The number of missing persons appears to be disproportionately tall compared to the neighboring islands, claims Patricia. For example, in St. Kittsu, which has 48,000 inhabitants, show official police statistics that 2023. and 2024. There are a total of 54 people. All but two were found. These two migrants are believed to be with Haiti who have left the country in the meantime.
Antigua has only 280 square kilometers and only 100,000 people, so this phenomenon seems particularly confusing. Explanations vary from banal – such as the insufficient readiness of the police to conduct an investigation due to weak resources and small salaries – to those sinister.
“The other islands eventually find the bodies. Some suggestion of the organ trade. I was thinking of gang activities. Is that something that is required in the initiation process?” Says Patricia.
Numerous disappearances
The disappearance of the nine-year-old girl 12. March shook the whole country and launched great quests. Chantel Crump’s body was found two days later, which caused the indignation of the public and protests. One woman is charged with her murder. The acting of the Arctic Head of Antigua Everton Jeffers admits that there are problems in the public police concern, but rejects the claim that the police do not care.
Patricia found comfort in connecting to the families of other missing persons and is now planned to establish an action group that will request international assistance.
Aaron has compiled a list of nearly 60 people missing on the Antigua. He thinks there are more. Men make up two thirds of missing, at age from teenagers to people in the 70s. “I personally experienced this pain. One of my family members disappeared and the other was killed. Families suffer. Many were passed away, and that they never greeted justice for their loved ones,” says Aaron and continues:
“Although some may have disappeared because of their involvement in criminal activities, concerns that the organized chain of taking human organs could be in the background of everything.”
Two more cases have already been recorded this year. Orden David did not return home after the night’s outsource. His burning car was found, but other traces are almost gone. Alline Henry describes the Order as his best friend for 23 years: “The worst thing is that I don’t know if anyone is against his will. If it be abused, don’t give him God, the worst scenario, we want the truth that we can move on.
Order (39) is known in Antigua as a prosecutor in the historical case from 2022., which led to the abolition of the law that criminalized same-sex relations.
“I can’t describe how much it hurts that someone instead of focusing on the fact that he disappeared, point out what Gay is. I believe that the case may have made him a target,” Alline.
“How many more people must disappear before taking something? Who’s next?”
Buy vegetation and ocean that surrounds the island may partially explain why many families remain unanswered. It is obviously easy to hide the body. “Obviously the local police can’t solve these disappearances. They need help from outside. How many more people must go before they take something? Who is next?” Alline asks.
Keon Richards (38), who works for the national school meal program, is the last time seen as he went from work on 26. February. His mother Dian Clarke says he is trying to stay positive, he adds, “You listen to missing people on the news, and then that happens to you too.”
With the exception of a 43-year-old woman, everyone who disappeared in the last two years are men between the ages of 18 to 76.
The investigation makes it difficult for the Antigua there is no forensic laboratory, so DNA samples must be sent abroad, which leads to long-term waiting results. The Director of the Forensic Services Michael Murrell says a new laboratory, who can analyze hair, blood and seeds, become operational in a few months, but recognizes that there is still no possibility of DNA analysis due to deficiency.
The son of Gregory Bailey, Kevorn (26), is not seen since August 2022. year, after receiving a phone call from an unknown person who was obviously going to meet. Gregory claims that the telecommunications company discovered the police name to the name of the caller, but that the police cannot tell him who he was.
“I’m emotionally exhausting it all the time I don’t call them, I will not find out, I am not sure that I was aware of, who believes that numerous disappearances are the result of the fact that the criminal groups go unpunished with murders.
Aaron also collected a list with over 100 unresolved murders. “People don’t trust the police, because there is too widespread corruption there,” Gregory says. Aaron agrees: “There were cases that the perpetrators turned against the victim’s family after they were reported.”
Police Chief Jeffers says no police in the world is perfect, but it adds: “I can guarantee that 90% of our police officers do well. There is not enough funds for all that we need to do.”
He announced a series of new measures including the establishment of a special unit for the missing persons and the acquisition of dogs trained to search for the body.
(Type / Source: Index.hr/ PHOTO: Social Networks)
