Former Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley says he is devastated by the death of seven-year-old Angelica Saydee Jogie, who died after being struck by a jet ski while bathing at Pigeon Point Heritage Park in Tobago on Wednesday.
And he has urged the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) to institute and enforce a ban on the operation of jet skis at or near the main bathing beaches at Pigeon Point.
In a post to social media, Rowley said, “Tobago has enough for everyone, but we need to make decisions that will keep jet skis away from bathers. THA paying millions for loss of life is not a satisfying substitute for the loss or serious injury to a member of any family. We need to act now before this, or worse, happens again.”
Rowley said he and his family were personally touched by the child’s death as they had spent the Easter weekend at that very location.
“My family and I are personally touched by this latest outrage simply because we spent the Easter days in that very “enclosure” with our 3, 4, 5, and 11-year-old grandchildren, their parents, cousins, and friends. There, but for the grace of God, it could easily have been any one of us or more who could have been the victim of a similar accident. Having been in the water there as described, I shudder at the very thought every time my mind returns to that beautiful child frolicking in this idyllic scene, only to be mowed down to her death,” he said.
Rowley said he did observe the rope barrier and the jet skis whizzing by.
“I felt uncomfortable because in the shimmering, splashing water surface that thin rope, largely invisible, is more of a hope than a protective deterrent,” he said.
Rowley offered condolences to the family and friends of 7-year-old Angelica Saydee. “To her parents, Mr. Arnold Jogie and Mrs. Salisha Jogie, words cannot describe the pain you are feeling at this time. May God grant you the courage to face the days ahead and may loving memories forever hold in your heart of our little angel, Angelica,” he said.
