It was a horrifying story: a school outing at a local beach ending the worst way. Several school kids, barely in their teens, were enjoying what was supposed to be a supervised beach party.
At one point five or six of them boarded a dinghy that was in no way related to the school outing. The overloaded boat was but a few yards from the shore when it capsized. Three young girls, all non-swimmers, drowned in a few feet of water.
We were about to close the next day’s issue when word of the incident reached us. Caroline Popovic, then a STAR reporter, raced to the scene, got her story and returned in time to make it our lead.
Ironically, relatively little was said about the horrible fact that three kids who were supposedly being monitored by school representatives lost their lives. No one was called to account. Instead, the politicians and the concerned school joined forces to attack the STAR for featuring the casualties of their neglect on our front page. It would not be the last time we were scapegoated for bringing the truth to light.
No surprise that to this day there has never been an inquiry. Three young girls perished, no questions asked. The year was 1987. But then, has much changed since then?
No matter, kudos to the following for remembering. Raquel Williams writes: “Their names were Marcella, Cheryl and Erica. They were students attending the Girls Vocational School and were attending a beach picnic at Pigeon Point with fellow students and teachers. Some of them took a ride on a fishing boat which capsized. Sadly they lost their lives but I think one or two escaped. I was a student at SALCC at the time. A then popular song by Burning Flames always gives me a flashback to this tragedy.”
I believe the song was “All Aboard?”
Perra Mason also recalled the details. Then there were those who said we demonstrated very bad taste and insensitivity by reminding relatives of the dead of the worst day of their lives. If only the protesters and others of like mind had cared half as much the day the incident occurred. If only they had demanded some action from the authorities a quarter of a century ago. The sin lies not in our reminding Saint Lucians of the horrors we too often tolerate without comment. The sin lies in our silence at precisely when we should be outraged!
And now for next week’s Flashback. See how much you know about our recent history—beautiful and not so beautiful!
—-Rick Wayne
THIS WEEK’S FLASHBACK!
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Their names: Marcella, Cheryl, Erica. Students of the Girls Vocational School attending a beach picnic at Pigeon Point with fellow students and teachers. A group of them took a “ride” on a fishing boat which capsized into the water. Sadly, they lost their lives but I think one or two others were fortunate to escape. I was a student of SALCC at the time. A then popular song by Burning Flames always gives me a flashback to this tragedy.
Thanks for the info …
Sounds really tragic …
These are the student from the Vocational School that drowned. Happened at a school beach party.
That day in question I was at school
I was a passed student and classmate of the victims…Erica was in my class and Marcella who I remembered was such a wonderful person…they will always be a memory to me
“All aboard” sad. I was in standard 1 when this happened
Whenever I hear this song by 17 plus (All on Board) brings back memories cause that’s the song they were dancing to.
It was reduit beach not piegeon point .. It was indeed a sad day for the Gaspard family .. I can still see her smile after so many years !! Rip cuz .
What particular year did that happen?
Hmm, for what reason do you have to show this children like this on a picture for the whole public to see???? Does it create something good inside people to se dead children in the newspapers. Does it have any news value?? Does it make them come alive. NO! And for what reason do you need to bring this picture back again into the news and all over Facebook. Haven’t the familys suffered enough. have you asked the families if this is ok? To publish a picture of their deceased children on facebook. Don’t you have any integrity at all? If you where allowed to do this you, you must write it over or under the picture. Just ask yourself before you do this things
“would I be ok with this?…
What year was this
I think it happened in 1988. so sad
thanks, for taking me through the terrain of memory. it was indeed a sad day for the community of gros islet and indeed, st lucia…. wow cant help but recall my childhood days with erica, one of the victims… she was such a gem! i dare say, her mom has never gotten over her loss… wow, again, thanks!
Wow I do remember this. One of the girls mom was a nurse and her sister attended SJC. It was indeed a sad time.