INSIDE GRENADA JANUARY 01, 2008 By Wallace J.A GRENADA: Grenadians are now breathing a sigh of relief knowing that some sixteen (16) passengers who were on board the ‘Christy D’ are now safely back in the country and have been re-united with their families and loved ones. The sixteen passengers came into the country by airplane and landed at the Point Salines International Airport on Sunday December 30, 2007. Sometime during the week before Christmas Day, the ‘Christy D’ went missing while making a routine trip from Trinidad to Grenada. This aroused deep fears in many Grenadians that the boat may have sunk and that the passengers on board may have all perished. The boat was carrying twenty-five passengers. On Christmas Eve, however, families of the passengers and crew were greeted with good news when they were informed by the Trinidad Coast Guard (by way of the local authorities) that the boat was towed to Venezuela and that all persons aboard the vessel were alive and well. Some of the passengers on board the ‘Christy D ‘ told the local press, upon arrival at Point Salines, that the vessel had started experiencing some mechanical problems before running adrift. Emergency calls to the local authorities here on the island were unsuccessful. Many of the passengers, however, stated that they were not afraid and that they had an ample supply of food supplies. The vessel ended up in Venezuela and the occupants were transported to Margarita where they received food, clothing and temporary accommodation whilst arrangements were made for them to return to Grenada. They stated that they were treated well by the Venezuelan authorities and that they were happy to be home. The owner, captain and other crew members have remained in Venezuela to work out the necessary arrangements to have the ‘Christy D’ returned safely to Grenada.