US Naval team detonates World War II bomb off Cane Garden point
What was supposed to be a regular recreational dive for Kay Wilson on January 16, 2006, turned out to be quite a discovery for here. She found a bomb!
Three years later on Thursday, September 4, with the help of local Coast Guard and a US Naval team, the old war ordinance was blown to bits just off the Cane Garden Coast.{{more}}
Media personnel gathered on the Coast Guard vessel to witness the big bang from the bomb that is believed to have been at the bottom of the sea since World War II.
Wilson, owner and operator of Indigo Dive Academy, said that she was diving as usual on that day when she saw a something on the seabed resembling a bottle. âI dived towards and kept knocking in it and immediately I knew what it was at that point,â Wilson recalled. The avid diver stated that she became fascinated by the history surrounding the ordinance. Wilson noted that there is so much still to be learnt about the history of this country and about what happened in the World War. âWe have entirely forgotten about our history. There are still many stories to be told about our past and we canât continue to sweep it under the rug,â Wilson added.
Amazingly, Wilson said that finding ordinance was not the strangest thing she has ever discovered while diving. Wilson said she has stumbled upon old ship wreckages and other strange creatures that dwell in the deep abyss. However, the passionate diver said that more needs to be done in educating our young people about their history so it can help them to know where they want to do or go in life.
Witnessing the demolition of the ordinance was United States Ambassador to the Eastern Caribbean Mary Ourisman, who said that it was a thrill for her to detonate the bomb. Ourisman told the media gathering that the ordinance was destroyed so it could pose no future hazard for ships that may pass in the area. The US ambassador noted that part of her job is to make sure that ports and harbours are safe from any threats of under water bombs or other hazardous materials.
Over one month of training in bomb disposal was administered to local Coast Guard by the 14-member Navy diving team. Lieutenant Deon Henry of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Coast guard said that the local divers gained tremendous experience during their training, which took place in Barbados.
Bomb Disposal Technician Lieutenant Commander Robert Greene said that the disposal of the ordinance was a relatively routine operation. Greene assured Vincentians that the area is now safe to dive again and poses no threat.(KW)
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