Pedro Cays.
A diplomatic row is brewing between Jamaica and Honduras following an incident on Friday during which the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) Coast Guard intercepted a Honduran fishing boat.
The head of the navy in Honduras is claiming that the captain of the boat was killed and two crewmen wounded after being fired on by the Coast Guard south west of the Pedro Cays.
A report published by the Latin American Herald Tribune quotes the Honduran navy chief, Rear Admiral Juan Pablo Rodriguez, as saying that excessive force was used against the fishermen.
He has called on the Honduras Foreign Ministry to file the highest level of protest with the Jamaican Government.
Admiral Rodriguez said the Honduran-flagged fishing boat was attacked by coast guardsmen from Jamaica because they were fishing illegally in Jamaica’s waters.
However, the navy chief said the incident happened in a very remote place about 350 nautical miles from the coast of Honduras, where fishermen do not usually fish.
Excessive force
According to Admiral Rodriguez, the Honduran vessel was hailed by radio, ignored the call from the coast guard and fled, prompting the Jamaican patrol boat to open fire.
He said the Honduran authorities consider it an excessive use of force if the crime was illegal fishing adding that officials were trying to determine whether the boat was involved in other criminal activities, such as drug or arms trafficking.
Admiral Rodriguez contended that the fishing boat is sailing to a port in Honduras with the body of the dead captain and the two wounded fishermen.
The dead captain has been identified as Harley Benles, who was from Cauquira, a town in the Honduran city of Gracias a Dios.
Congressman Maylo Wood, who represents the town, says the incident occurred in “Honduran waters” north of the 15th parallel.
"The other ship appeared and opened fire ... killing the captain and leaving five crewmen wounded. From what I’ve been told, it was Jamaican coast guardsmen who boarded the fishing boat," Mr. Wood said, without identifying his sources.
"I understand that the wounded people were put on the (patrol) boat by the Jamaicans and taken to Jamaica," he added.
Honduras and Jamaica have not agreed on the boundaries of their Caribbean waters, leading to frequent incidents over illegal fishing.
Two Honduran crewmen injured – National Security Ministry
A statement from the Ministry of National Security on Sunday confirmed that the JDF Coast Guard intercepted a Honduran fishing vessel about 6.53 Friday evening.
It said the Coast Guard was conducting patrols based on information that illegal fishing was taking place on the banks near the Pedro Cays.
The Coast Guard attempted to intercept and board the vessel and during the process, two Honduran crewmen were injured.
According to the statement, the injured Hondurans were taken to medical facilities for treatment while the fishing vessel continued back to Honduras.
Since the start of the year, two Honduran vessels have been seized by the JDF Coast Guard.
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