A file in the death of seven-year-old Angelica Jogie is now in the hands of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Roger Gaspard to determine whether charges would be laid in the matter.
This was confirmed yesterday, by Superintendent of Police Rodhil Kirk, who said consultation in the matter remains ongoing.
Angelica was struck by a jet ski while bathing with family members at Pigeon Point Beach, Tobago on April 8. She was taken to the Scarborough General Hospital where she later died.
The jet ski operator, who was detained by police, was released from police custody two weeks ago pending investigation.
The incident led to the passage of the Tobago Marine Park Bill, which was debated and passed at the Tobago House of Assembly Chamber last week Thursday. Fines up to $100,000 are on the books. The Bill is expected to be laid in Parliament towards passage and implementation.
However, several stakeholders are not pleased with the Bill and have called for consultation by Chief Secretary Farley Augustine. Yesterday, stakeholders inclusive of reef associations, taxi drivers, fishermen, and even fish processors gathered outside the Pigeon Point Heritage Park calling for consultation from the THA on the matter.
Captain and tour operator Mario Solomon is calling on Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar to not pass the Tobago Marine Park Bill when it reaches Parliament. “The honourable Mrs Kamla Persad-Bissessar, that nonsense that they draft and bring forward and trying to push down Tobagonians throat to make it sound like it is the voice of Tobago, that is what Tobago people want, Tobago people do not want that. We don’t want that at the end of the day so the ball is in her hands or in her court at this present point in time and I think as political leader the people have the say, not the 15 have the say. The Bill should be rejected,” Solomon said.
Vendor Lincoln Potts said the Chief Secretary is to be blamed in the matter. “Mr Augustine is to be blamed, you know why? Mr Augustine only picked this up because somebody dead but this thing was here long before where Mr (Hilton) Sandy put it there and nobody pick it up until somebody get killed,” Potts said.
