Why Isn’t the United States Helping the Taylor Casey Family in the Sivananda Ashram Yoga Retreat Bahamas Case?
“The United States Must Help the Taylor Casey Family in the Sivananda Ashram Yoga Retreat Bahamas Case,” says human rights defender Quianna Canada
Colette Seymore gave us an update regarding her search for her daughter, Taylor Casey, at the Sivananda Ashram Yoga Retreat on Paradise Island.
Colette states she was not permitted to speak with Hannah, who I believe is a Sivananda Ashram instructor that informed her of Ms. Casey’s disappearance. Although the Caribbean police station on the island had a legion of missing persons on their bulletin, Colette maintains they did not have a photo of Ms. Casey.
Colette also informed News Nation’s Brian Entin that she was “almost scolded” when she and Emily attempted to take photos of the premises. Despite her pleading to speak with practitioners at the Bahamian yoga retreat—they seemed coerced on “what to say and what not to say.”
There is other alarming information: Colette states the Monday before Ms. Casey went missing, a man with a walkie-talkie had loitered around her domicile.
Guiding Principles for the Search for Disappeared Persons
Pursuant to Principle 7 of the Guiding Principles for the Search for Disappeared Persons, under no circumstances should ending the search for a disappeared person result in the search or criminal investigation being closed.
Due Diligence
I am concerned that Ms. Casey’s family, as stated in an interview, has not spoken to anyone from the Federal Bureau Investigation. I must reiterate, for American families, the FBI has an obligation to conduct an investigation. Such investigations must be fulfilled in good faith and with due diligence. Due diligence means that the investigation must be undertaken using all available legal means (e.g., intelligence capacities) which take into account all the facts.
The Search is a Continuing Obligation
It must also be reiterated that the search for Ms. Casey is a continuing obligation for United States authorities. Indeed, Principle 7 clarifies that the search for Ms. Casey should continue until her whereabouts have been determined with certainty.
On this account, it is incumbent upon the United States Government to harness its formidable intelligence resources to facilitate the swift and safe repatriation of Ms. Casey, as the potential enforced disappearance of United States nationals constitutes egregious violations that profoundly undermine the bedrock of American national security and foreign relations.
I am also calling on the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), the FBI, and the United States’ global partners to optimise their collection of vital intelligence and leverage their investigative prowess to devise effective strategies for ensuring the safe return of Ms. Casey.
