Stephon Nicholas
Tobago Correspondent
Reef tour operators and jet ski stakeholders say the Tobago House of Assembly must accept blame for last month’s fatal accident in Pigeon Point, in which seven-year-old Angelica Jogie was killed by a jet ski operator while playing in a bathing-only zone.
The tragedy has raised national concern over marine safety, and on April 23, an emergency injunction was granted to the THA banning all jet ski activity at the Pigeon Point Heritage Park and the Buccoo Reef Marine Park. The injunction was extended on May 1 by Justice Sherlanne Pierre.
The new Buccoo Marine Park Bill has also been sent to Parliament, as the THA seeks to crack down on illegal activity, with hefty fines for infractions.
However, at a meeting of stakeholders at the Canaan Community Centre yesterday, tour operators said they feel neglected and disrespected, as no THA official showed up. They appealed for proper consultations on the bill, adding that they have complained to the THA for years about safety risks at the marine park.
The stakeholders said an alarm was raised about illegal jet ski activity during a March 11 meeting with Assistant Secretary of Tourism Niketa Percy.
Minutes of that meeting provided to Guardian Media showed one stakeholder highlighting improper demarcation of the park boundaries contributing to jet ski operators plying their trade at the Nylon Pool. In addition, jet ski instructor Richard Ash had flagged illegal jet ski activity in the navigational channel posing a risk to bathers.
Yesterday, Ash called on the THA to be held accountable for the April 8 tragedy involving Jogie, claiming they ignored stakeholders’ warnings.
He said, “Every time I stand up I saying the same thing. It is going to happen—and it happened…” Ash said.
“Why did it take the THA so long (to act)? A jet ski could move over 85 miles per hour on the water. It has no brakes… The risk of collision could occur. You don’t put the hard by a soft. The jet ski is the hard, the human is the soft… I knew it was going to happen.”
He added, “Somebody has to be held to account and the House of Assembly has to be hold to account, because they had all the warnings.”
Michael Frank, owner of Frankie Tours, said he was fed up of the excuses from the THA, which he said is not leading by example.
“THA always seems to have problems with everything. When it is not fuel, it is transportation. I used to be a reef patrol officer. I work in the system, so I know. In order for you to have proper operations, you need to have proper things in place. You can’t come out and say you not doing A, B, C, and you at the top is not doing anything to facilitate A, B, C.”
He said if tour operators want to operate until about 10 pm, the THA does not have adequate assets to provide security. He claimed there are also no ambulance services or medical personnel to respond to potential emergencies.
Frank said the marine park needs proper surveillance to protect against poachers and people endangering the reef. He believes glass-bottom boats are also unfairly paying the price for all marine accidents in Tobago.
“A shark bite somebody in Turtle Beach, Buccoo Reef is closed.”
He added, “Condolences to the family that lost their child… but it is not needed to close down the livelihood of thousands of people.”
Meanwhile, Alvin Douglas, director, Tobago Marine Safety and Security Services, said his company was hired by the THA to monitor activity on the reef and ensure compliance with regulations. However, he said in 2023, their services were terminated.
“We would have monitored the boats, how many persons onboard, making sure they don’t overload the vessels. We would have reminded people that fishing (in the marine park) is illegal,” he said.
Douglas said the company was also responsible for monitoring jet ski operations.
“When we realise jet skis (are on the reef), we would usher them out of the reef into an area they could ply their trade. There was a working system and it was stopped. I can’t tell you why it was stopped. Everything just started to fall from there.”
PNM Tobago Council leader Shamfa Cudjoe-Lewis was reportedly asked by the tour operators to arrange the meeting on their behalf. She urged the operators to continue to write the THA and request dialogue. She claimed the THA acknowledged receipt of the invitation on Monday.
However, the Office of the Chief Secretary said an informal notice of the meeting was only received yesterday evening. It said the concerns outlined in the letter were already addressed at an April 13 meeting in Pigeon Point.
Meanwhile, Secretary of Environment Darren Henry told Guardian Media that he has been working assiduously since assuming office three months ago to improve the industry. He said he attended the April 13 meeting and stakeholders had advised the THA that the time for talk was over. He said he was surprised to see that now that the THA has decided to act, stakeholders are interested in talking.
