The mystery of anti -gua and the missing Barbuda

The worst thing is mental torture, says Patricia Joseph. “Honestly” erupts what the last moments of her mother are. The endless state of the suspended.

Six years after the mysterious disappearance of Mother Patricia still catching up, seeking a characteristic orange cloak that 74-year-old Hyacinth Gage had a day when she disappeared, hoping he could have a tip.

Tragically, Hyacinth is only one of the increasing number of people on the tiny Caribbean Antigua Island to disappear without traces in what some called an epidemic, others-crisis. At least nine have disappeared only in the last two years.

On this day, in May 2019, it usually started enough. Hyacinth, described as difficult and self -sufficient, went to a regular check at the public hospital, but could not return. She has never been seen since then.

This was to cause an excruciating series of barren, island searches and desperate calls for help.

“We became detectives. My sister and I united to look for the presenters. I returned to the hospital, asking questions,” Patricia explains.

She was able to make sure that while her mother had completed the planned blood tests, she did not perform on the electrocardiogram. Further investigations have shown that she apparently handed over her handbag to another patient to keep track of the one but never returned. The next day, the service staff were found by the Security Service staff.

The family also was able to find a motorist who said she gave Hyacinth to a place from a short distance from the hospital.

“The police became angry with us for the investigation and ordered us to stop,” Patricia recalls. “Then they were annoyed with our constant questions, so in the end we had to retreat and just pray.”

Attacks are especially painful: March 6 would be the 80th anniversary of Hyacinth, a milestone, for which the family has long planned a great holiday. Instead, Patricia took the weekend to do in quiet reflections.

Patricia, according to Antigua, is supposed to be disproportionately high compared to the neighboring islands, reports Patricia, which is supported by sources in several islands that spoke to the BBC.

For example, Saint Kitsa, which has 48,000 population, the official police statistics showing that of the total number of 54 people reported in 2023 and 2024, all but two. The other two are considered to be Haitian migrants who have left the country since then.

The small anti -hywan size is only 108 square miles, where less than 100,000 people live, this phenomenon is especially surprising.

Speculation is rich. The theories range from banal – insufficient will to investigate the undervalued and under -paid police – to the sinister.

“Other islands eventually find bodies,” Patrice says. “My mind goes all over the place, interested in what happened. People believe the trade by organs. I even thought about the gang activity. Do I need to do it as a dedication?”

The disappearance of a nine -year -old girl on March 12 sent a nation and caused extensive searches. Two days later, in the case that caused widespread outrage and protests and protests – and sent rumors to the super -day. The woman was accused of murder of Shanthel.

Acting Antigua Everton Jeffers, Commissioner for Police Commissioner, admits that there is a “place to improve” when it comes to communication with the public, but rejects the idea that it is invalid.

He also says he supports an open mind due to a large number of disappearances, including possible trading bodies operating on the island.

“This is what we have heard and what we’ll figure out in.

Patricia has found consolation in connection with the families of others missing and now plans to create a group of action to seek international assistance.

“It’s no longer an accidental thing, it’s serious, there is a crisis,” she adds.

Aaron (not his real name) has collected a list of almost 60 people who went missing in Antigua – more than a third in the last decade – and believes that there were several more. Men make up about two in three disappearances, ranging from teenagers to people in the 70s.

“I personally survived this pain. One of the members of my family went missing and the other was killed,” he says, provided provided with the anonymity of the threats he said for coverage.

“Families suffer. Many went to their graves without seeing justice for their loved ones.

“Although some may have disappeared from their participation in criminal activity, there is anxiety that the organized rings containing the authorities can work behind the scenes,” Aaron adds.

Police say they are collecting official data for the missing missing, covering the last two decades, but before the publication did not give any numbers.

There were already two more this year.

At the end of January, the Order David did not return home after a night’s casino. The Order’s car has been burned since then, but there have been several other hints.

Alina Henry recalls the Order as his “best friend 23 years”.

“The worst thing is not to know whether he is being held against his will,” Alin says.

“Who is abusing them by torturing him? Every day my thoughts are playing. If God forbid, this is the worst scenario, we need closure,” she adds.

39 -Year Order well known in Antigua as a key lawsuit in A sign of 2022, which abolished the legislation that criminalizes same -sex actions.

“I can’t explain how painful it is to focus on what he lacks, some people focus on being gay.

“I believe that it may have made it a goal,” Alin says sadly.

On the occasion of Bushlend and the ocean around, the ease of hiding the body in Antigua can partly explain the absence of answers suffering from many families.

“Obviously, local police cannot decide these disappearances. They need to be brought to the borders. How many people should disappear without being done. Who next?” Alline adds.

38 -year -old Keon Richards, who works in the National School of Nutrition, was last seen as left on February 26. His mother Diana Clark says she is “trying to remain positive”, adding, “You hear that people have disappeared in the news and then crawls on you.”

With the exception of a 43-year-old woman, all those who disappear without traces over the last two years are men, aged 18 to 76.

Research report is the absence of a local forensic laboratory, which means that you need to send important DNA samples for analysis, which is equated with the long expectation.

The director of the forensic examination, Michael Muhrell, tells the BBC that a new laboratory is capable of analyzing traces of evidence such as hair, blood and sperm will work for months, but recognizes that DNA opportunities are somehow excluded from meager finances.

The updated technology cannot come fast enough for some.

Gregory Bailey’s son, 26, was not noticed because he called from an unknown man he apparently left his home to meet in August 2022.

Gregory says that the telecommunications firm claims that he has long gave the subscriber to the police, but “the police still can’t tell me who it is.”

His frustration and despair are obvious.

“It’s like part of me missing. Some people talk about closure, but I failed to see it in the coffin; I prefer to draw it alive,” he says.

“Emotionally difficult to harass the police. “I want the government to know that people mourn; I don’t know if they appreciate it.

“I have withstood the missing posters everywhere, but I couldn’t put a single house; I couldn’t carry it. This is the most painful experience in my life.”

Gregory believes that a large number of disappearances are largely due to how much criminal factions go with the murder.

Aaron also collected a list of more than 100 unresolved killings.

“People do not trust the police; corruption is running into law enforcement,” Gregory says.

Aaron agrees: “There have been cases where the criminals avenged the victims when the messages were made.”

Police chief Jeffers says “no police in the world are perfect.” But he adds: “I can guarantee that 90% of our officers are good.”

He also admits that limited finances interfere with the investigation.

“There is no police in the Caribbean, which has enough resources to do everything we need to do.

“We do a lot to look for people, get leading from the public and matter, and promised a number of new measures, including the creation of the assigned operational group of missing and acquiring dogs trained for the detection of bodies.

But this may not be enough to reassure those who are desperately waiting for the answers.

“It’s time to take serious measures,” Patricia urges. “I hope this doesn’t happen to a person close to them before they look at these disappearances well.”