Hope is running out for the safe return of fisherman Othneil Harewood and Chinese national Zhi Cai Su.
The men left Barbados on March 14, reportedly heading into waters described by fellow fishermen as dangerously rough, and have not been seen since.
In Oistins, Christ Church, recently, Harewood’s cousin, Charles Harewood, described him as stubborn and as someone who did not give up.
“If there was any opportunity for him to get back, he would take it. So the fact he’s not back yet, something has gone grossly wrong,” he said.
Charles said his cousin was an “all right” fellow who had some issues in the past but was trying to be a better person. He said he was holding on fiercely to hope that his cousin was alive, but admitted it may be time to face reality.
“It’s not a good feeling, but it’s getting to the point where I may have to accept the fact that it is what it is,” he said.
Su, known as “Chinee”, has lived in Barbados for decades. He met his wife, Lee Hong Su, in 2000. Yesterday, she was selling food along the Princess Alice Highway, St Michael, at The Juice Spot Bar.
“I don’t know why he went out to sea. He liked to go out, but he’s not a fisherman; the other man was a regular fisherman. He left that Saturday and said he would be back the Sunday. Now everyone says he’s gone,” the still distraught woman said.
Lee Hong said she was keeping busy, plus she had to work to earn income for herself and their five children, one of whom is taking part in an internship and the others attending either tertiary or primary school.
She said she was tired of talking about it and hoped not to be approached any longer, as “it happened and I can’t do anything”.
