The tragic death of seven-year-old Angelica Saydee Jogie in a jet ski incident at Pigeon Point Heritage Park on Wednesday has triggered social media outrage, with calls for stricter regulation of jet ski operators, and stronger enforcement of safety zones at Tobago beaches.
Dr Donny Samlal, a businessman and Hindu pundit, wrote to the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) yesterday, saying he was present at the beach facility and witnessed “troubling” activities at the beach on Wednesday.
“This incident has caused shock and sadness, and it raises serious questions about public safety, enforcement, and the regulation of recreational activities at one of Tobago’s most visited beaches.
I was present at Pigeon Point Beach close to the time of the incident, and what I observed was extremely troubling. One of the major issues was the uncontrolled use of jet skis by very young operators,” he wrote.
Samlal said he observed a careless and inexperienced jet ski operator, who appeared heavily intoxicated.
“It was alarming to witness such dangerous operation of powerful equipment in an area where families and children gather for recreation,” he said.
Samlal also raised the issue of the use of what he believed was cannabis around the tour operations.
“The smell of cannabis was noticeable upon entering a tour boat, and some of the tour guides and operators appeared to be under the influence. This is a deeply worrying situation, as persons responsible for guiding and transporting visitors should be held to the highest standards of conduct and safety,” he said.
Samlal said law enforcement and emergency response personnel were few at the facility.
“At a major tourism site such as Pigeon Point, especially during busy periods when many families travel to Tobago for recreation and upliftment, there should be clear systems in place for monitoring, regulation, and immediate emergency intervention. The absence of visible control and prompt response only increases the risk of further tragedy,” he said.
Serious implications for tourism
Samlal said the tragedy can lead to serious implications for tourism in Tobago, and called on the THA to investigate the matter thoroughly and take immediate corrective action.
“I ask that urgent consideration be given to stricter regulation of jet ski operations, age and competency controls for operators, routine checks for intoxication and impairment, greater law enforcement visibility, and stronger emergency medical and rescue services at popular beaches,” he said.
Samlal’s concerns were shared by dozens of people who pleaded with the authorities to crack down on drugs and alcohol among tour operators.
“I was on one last year June with my 3 Grandsons on the upper level. When I complained, the BOAT’s CAPTAIN told me that children should be downstairs!” one commenter wrote.
Another person shared her experience in Tobago, saying, “You know how long the THA is supposed to overhaul that marine activities and make regulations to maintain order and have them owners accountable. They should have a dedicated law enforcement task force that handles boat patrols, permits and tickets. Do they even pay taxes?”
Another person argued that those responsible for making the rules and upholding them should accept some blame for the child’s death.
“There need to be permits issued to people given permission to toute for tours along with some serious rules and regulations, their need to be courses they have to attend and legal documents to sign before given permission to operate, especially on jet skis but also the glass bottom boats,” she said.
The incident has also revived memories of previous jet ski tragedies in Tobago.
In 2018, 13-year-old Shem Murray died after the jet ski he was operating struck a coral reef near Pigeon Point.
In August 2023, Mathias Jerry drowned after falling from a jet ski near No Man’s Land.
