Woman refutes allegations about missing son

The mother of a man believed to be lost at sea says there is nothing fishy about his reported disappearance, almost two months ago.{{more}}

Karen McMaster said that although her son, Romaul McMaster, has not been located since she reported him missing last month, she is hoping that he would be found safe and sound. She refutes allegations that the 20-year-old, also known as “Water Life”, may have absconded.

SEARCHLIGHT understands that the young man, along with two other individuals are down to answer criminal charges during the current assizes of the High Court.

The youngsters were charged with two counts of robbery, possession of a firearm with intent to commit an offence, possession of an unlicensed firearm and two counts of possession of unlicensed ammunition.

“Why should he run away, and I am here hoping every day that he would turn up alive,” the grieving mother said to SEARCHLIGHT last Thursday.

“Why should he do that and I am the one who put up $20,000 for his bail?” she asked.

Acknowledging the charges, the mother of four was adamant that running away from the consequences of his action is not something that her son would do, and that she, personally, would prefer that he was incarcerated, where she could see him at any time, rather than being away from her, and her not knowing if he is alive and how he is doing.

“My son never stayed away from home. Every day and night, I am hoping that he is somewhere trying to get back here, and people saying these things.

“That is not true and that is not good.”

In February, McMaster told SEARCHLIGHT that on January 31, her son and another individual known as “Youwie” used the boat of a friend named “Longie” to head down to the Grenadines.

McMaster said that later that night, she and her husband were informed that Romaul and Youwie had run into trouble on their way down.

She said that attempts were made to find the men, and they were told that Youwie was picked up by a passing yacht; minus her son.

“I meet with the other guy… he said that he and Romaul was swimming for a long time… and then Romaul tell he to tell his mother that he gone, he can’t make it anymore.”

Last week, SEARCHLIGHT spoke to Youwie, real name Eckron Baptiste, who confirmed that he and Romaul were headed down to the Grenadines, when disaster struck.

Baptiste steered clear of allegations that McMaster’s disappearance was an elaborate plot.

“After we reach between Bequia Channel going down… I hear like something break.

“After ten to fifteen minutes the engine close down, and we tried to start the engine, then the battery dead out….

“Waves start to buss over the boat and the boat go down, and then we start to swim till night and then he go down.

“All he do before he go down, he say to ‘tell me mommy that he gone home…,” Youwie recalled.

“They might feel that he fake he death or something…. But he go down, he go down. He give up.”

SEARCHLIGHT contacted the Royal St Vincent and the Grenadines Coastguard, who confirmed knowledge of the report, and said the search was continuing.

Coastguard official Lt. Deon Henry told SEARCHLIGHT that his department was aware of the report, and had carried out extensive searches for McMaster.

He indicated that regional coastguard officials authorities in Trinidad and Tobago and Martinique had also carried out searches for McMaster, with the Trinidad and Tobago Search and Reacue Unit also conducting aerial searches.

SEARCHLIGHT also understands that one of the individuals charged with McMaster was one of two persons shot two Fridays ago, in Middle Street, Kingstown. (JJ)