Businessman and boater Eli Fuller is urging the government to subsidise life rafts for local vessels, arguing that the prohibitive cost of critical safety equipment is placing fishermen in danger. His call comes following the disappearance of three Antiguan men at sea, according to Antigua News Room.
Speaking in a live video, Fuller said most local fishermen cannot afford to purchase or maintain life rafts, which require costly annual servicing. As a result, many vessels go to sea without one of the most fundamental pieces of survival equipment. "That should be subsidised… any local registered vessel… government should subsidise the inspection and the purchase of the life raft," Fuller said.
Fuller also advocated for the wider adoption of satellite tracking and emergency communication devices, including EPIRBs and GPS-based messengers. These devices allow distress signals to be transmitted even when vessels are beyond cell range, enabling authorities to locate missing boats more quickly. He noted that such devices are relatively affordable when compared with general boating costs.
Beyond equipment, Fuller highlighted the absence of basic safety practices such as filing float plans — the practice of informing someone on land of a vessel's intended route and expected return time. He said this simple step is critical for narrowing search areas during rescue operations. He also pointed to poor coordination between authorities and the broader boating community, arguing that fishermen and nearby vessels should be alerted more rapidly when a boat goes missing.
Fuller described the latest incident as part of a wider pattern of preventable tragedies, stressing that stronger regulation, improved communication, and better-equipped vessels are urgently needed. Without meaningful change, he warned, similar losses will continue. He characterised such incidents as "a long list of mistakes all coming together."
