Jamaica, Honduras seek to settle dispute

Arthur Hall, Senior Staff Reporter

AFTER ALMOST one week of sabre rattling, the governments of Jamaica and Honduras have started talks in an effort to settle the diplomatic row over the controversial incident at sea just over one week ago.

The two governments have also agreed on the importance of diplomacy to prevent an escalation of tension.

Jamaica's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Dr Kenneth Baugh on Thursday spoke via telephone with Honduran Foreign Minister Mario Canahuati.

Baugh provided his Honduran counterpart with the information he had received from the Jamaican Defence Force (JDF) Coastguard.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Canahuati confirmed that the captain of the Honduran vessel had died during the incident.

Baugh expressed his regret for the casualty, but he maintained Jamaica's position that the shooting by members of the JDF Coastguard was precipitated by the unlawful actions of the Honduran vessel.

Baugh also informed Canahuati about the status of the hospitalised Honduran fishermen.

The two ministers agreed to maintain contact and that their respective ministries would remain in communication on the matter.

It is reported that last Friday, a JDF Coastguard team spotted a Honduran vessel with fishermen fishing illegally in Jamaican waters.

According to the reports locally, after the JDF team failed in its efforts to get a response from the men of the Honduran fishing boat, its members fired warning shots across the bow.

The local reports say that the boat appeared headed to ram the coastguard vessel, prompting the firing of more shots.

At the end of the shooting, the JDF confirmed that two of the Hondurans were hit. They are in hospital in Jamaica.

Honduran officials have since reported that the captain was fatally shot and at least two others on the boat injured.