Tobago Correspondent
The family of seven-year-old Angelica Jogie, who was struck and killed by a jet ski at Pigeon Point on April 8, intends to pursue legal action against the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) over the tragedy.
And Angelica’s father, Arnold Jogie, says they have retained the services of Anand Ramlogan, SC, to do so.
“We have taken lawyers to handle the case,” Jogie said in a WhatsApp message to Guardian Media yesterday.
The development comes exactly three months after Angelica and three other relatives were hit by a jet ski while in the bathing-only zone at the popular beach. Angelica’s parents and one of her uncles were also injured in the incident. However, the former San Fernando TML student received the worst of the injuries, with severe trauma to her head. She was pronounced dead at the Scarborough General Hospital.
A male suspect, who allegedly fled the scene after the accident, was arrested hours later at his home in Canaan. The 32-year-old was reportedly sleeping when police arrived. He was later released pending further investigations.
Asked yesterday whether he was losing hope that Angelica would get justice, Jogie said, “No, I haven’t given (up) hope yet. We need to get justice for this tragedy and I still have hope that there will be justice and to the law.”
However, he again expressed concern over the pace of the investigation.
“That is a child. If we don’t get nothing happening, these guys across there would do the same thing to another family.”
Jogie said the family is waiting for the criminal proceedings to be dealt with before taking any legal action.
Snr Supt Rodhill Kirk on Tuesday revealed police are expected to approach the Director of Public Prosecutions for further advice later this week. He defended the approach of law enforcement, saying it was the first-ever criminal probe in such an incident.
Following the tragedy, Chief Secretary Farley Augustine said the THA had been held liable for a similar circumstance in the past.
In 2007, a pirogue maimed teenagers Yanik Quesnel and his Spanish girlfriend Ana Carolina Barry-Laso with its propeller at Pigeon Point. Quesnel was left paralysed while his girlfriend sustained injuries to the left side of her body.
In 2010, Justice Judith Jones found that the Pigeon Point Heritage Park breached its duty of care in ensuring the couple was safe in its waters.
During an April plenary sitting, Augustine complained about the lack of enforcement of regulations at Pigeon Point and other marine spaces. He warned that if the THA is sued, he would instruct attorneys to take action against the Attorney General and Central Government.
The incident has raised serious questions about marine safety and saw the THA seek the court’s intervention to protect bathers from reckless jet ski operators.
Arising from the incident, the THA passed the new Buccoo Reef Marine Park Bill in April. The bill addresses the use of watercraft and jet skis and increased penalties for several offences, with some fines as high as $100,000.
Efforts to contact Augustine for a response were unsuccessful yesterday, as he did not respond to a WhatsApp message up to press time.
