KINGSTON, Jamaica — While many were concerned with the landfall of Hurricane Melissa on Tuesday, Fishing Boat Captain of the seaside Kingston town of Port Royal, Herbert Dowie, says he was more concerned about boats from the United States (US) military in the Caribbean Sea that have attacked, claiming the lives of dozens of people.

Washington claims that the boats were carrying drugs and those killed have been suspected narco traffickers, but there are concerns that innocent fisherfolk, among others, may be caught in the crossfire.

Dowie views the actions by the US as unlawful and dangerous.

“That shouldn’t be happening; they shouldn’t be shooting down no vessel,” Dowie said.

“I don’t know if it’s because the boats are too fast, why they can’t stop it and check it, and that’s why they blow them up,” he questioned, adding, “If they are even carrying drugs, then shouldn’t they run them down? They have helicopters that can track them; they don’t need to shoot them down.”

Roy Brown, another Port Royal resident, shared Dowie’s sentiments and accused the US of abusing its power in the region.

“They have no need to kill the man dem [but] when you are a small country and they can step on you, they will,” Brown said. “[US President] Trump is no different from [Russian President] Putin, they are the same thing.”

US forces have killed at least 57 people in strikes on alleged drug boats in the Caribbean and in the Pacific over the last few months.

The strikes have drawn condemnation in the region and in the US, where both Democrats and Republicans have raised concerns and questioned the president’s authority to order them.