NunatuKavut Community Council calls for search and rescue efforts to immediately continue for two young NunatuKavut fishers missing at sea
MARY’S HARBOUR, LABRADOR, September 20, 2021 – NunatuKavut Community Council (NCC) President Todd Russell today issued the following statement:
“We implore the Joint Rescue Control Centre (JRCC) to immediately continue the search and rescue efforts for my nephew Marc Russell and Joey Jenkins, two young members of NunatuKavut who are missing at sea on the south coast of Labrador. The JRCC’s premature decision to suspend the search and rescue mission late last evening for these two boys is appalling and unequivocally the wrong decision. It was made just two hours prior to dark, with no transition plan in place and without any conclusive evidence that the vessel and lives have been lost.
Since that time, extensive efforts have been undertaken by the families and all levels of government to petition the JRCC to reverse this decision to allow just 24 more hours of search and rescue support for these two boys. To date, their efforts have been falling on deaf ears and valuable time is being wasted. It is detestable that bureaucrats are refusing the requests of federal Ministers and the Premier to reverse this decision.
We want to assure our members that the political support from both the federal and provincial governments have been outstanding and everyone involved has been relentless in trying to convince the JRCC to continue search and rescue efforts. There are some who have tried to make this terrible situation a partisan political issue and have called for a boycott of voting today. I join Marc’s mother, Jeanette Russell, in asking that this situation not get in the way of voting in this federal election.
The JRCC has the power to change course and continue the search. We are asking that more time be given, just 24 hours, one more day, for Marc and Joey to be found and returned home safely to their families and loved ones. There is too much at stake to give up now. Please continue to search and help bring our boys home.”
To learn more about NCC and NunatuKavut Inuit, please visit our website at www.nunatukavut.ca and we invite you to check out our new Story Map page which helps tell our story. Please also join in the conversation at facebook.com/nunatuKavut and Twitter @nunatuKavut.
NCC Media Contact:
Kelly Broomfield
Director of Communications
T. 709-280-5965
E. communications@nunatukavut.ca