The United Cajun Navy is explaining why they are no longer aiding in the search for the seven missing crewmen of the SEACOR Power that capsized on April 13th. UCN spokesperson Brian Trascher says they cap search efforts at two weeks and opted to end their participation due to a smear campaign launched by former members.
“Some people started believing it and we just figured that the best thing to do was to pull our resources and our public platform from them so that they’ll end up choking on their own lack of oxygen,” said Trascher.
Trascher said the UCN still plans to assist family members of the missing crew members. Trascher said it’s a group of former volunteers, that were asked to leave the group for various reasons, who continue to slander the UCN and they’ve had to take the matter to court before.
“We’ve been successful in obtaining protective orders against some of these people and it’s some of these people who are actually violating protective orders that are causing trouble now and they’re going to be hearing from a judge,” said Trascher.
Trascher said the United Cajun Navy is the only registered nonprofit organization that has emerged from the grassroots efforts of the Cajun Navy that responded to the 2016 flood in Louisiana. Trascher said there are several rumors accusing the organization of misusing funds, but a lack of evidence.
“It’s just a lot of unsubstantiated claims and fortunately we keep good records, and we have proof to show that it’s all lies,” said Trascher.
Trascher said even though the group is nonprofit it doesn’t mean they don’t have expenses and they are also donating funds raised from search efforts in the form of grants to families of the missing crewmembers.
Comments