Seven days after Angelica Saydee Jogie died in a jet ski incident at Pigeon Point Heritage Park in Tobago, her body was returned to Trinidad last night.
The parents of the seven-year-old, Arnold and Salisha Jogie, and older sister, Angelina Sophie, arrived on the same flight at Piarco International Airport.
But the family did not go directly to their home at Cemetery Street in Barrackpore, relatives said. Instead, they followed the hearse to a funeral home in Penal, where Angelica Saydee’s body will remain until the funeral for her on Saturday.
Angelica Saydee, a Standard One student of San Fernando TML Primary School, died after she was struck by a jet ski while bathing with her family at Pigeon Point Heritage Park two Wednesdays ago.
FUNERAL ON SATURDAY: Angelica Saydee Jogie
Relatives said they expected an emotional return to the family’s home last night, where they have been gathering nightly since the tragic incident occurred.
The child’s grandmother, Radica Jogie, and other relatives have been hosting prayer sessions and bhajan singing, which her parents have been attending virtually.
Angelica will be cremated at the Shore of Peace site, following a funeral service at her home on Saturday morning.
Member of Parliament for Oropouche East Dr Roodal Moonilal visited the family earlier this week, where he lit a candle in memory of little Angelica.
He offered his own prayers and words of comfort, standing in solidarity with the grieving family and community.
Moonilal expressed gratitude for the outpouring of support from the community, acknowledging the strength, unity, and compassion shown in the face of such profound loss.
He assured the family they remain in the thoughts and prayers of the entire constituency and the wider national community.
The community, religious groups, and non-governmental organisations hosted a candlelight vigil on Sunday night, calling for stricter restrictions at the nation’s beaches and for the Government to do more to protect children.
Angelica was on vacation with her family when the incident happened around 5 p.m. last week Wednesday.
The child and her father suffered serious injuries in the incident. Her uncle, Darren Jogie, was also hurt.
They were all taken to the Scarborough General Hospital, where Angelica died.
An autopsy found that she died from multiple traumatic injuries.
The operator of the jet ski involved in the incident, a 32-year-old man of Canaan Feeder Road, Tobago, was detained last week Thursday in connection with the incident.
Yesterday, senior officers told the Express a file is being prepared to be sent to Director of Public Prosecutions Roger Gaspard to determine whether or not the suspect is to be charged.
According to the officers, the investigation was being wrapped up and the file in the matter would soon be on the desk of the DPP, who would determine if charges would be laid in the matter.
Ban jet skis
He remains in police custody as investigations continue.
In the aftermath of the tragic incident, mother Salisha Jogie called for a ban on jet skis in Tobago.
Speaking with the Express last week Thursday, she said: “My request is I want something to be done for those jet skis in that area in Tobago because this must always be remembered in such a way that it should never happen again, and something must be put in place for those jet skis to be removed,” she said.
Jogie continued: “I don’t want them, I don’t want anyone to have to feel the pain that I am feeling right now.”
She said the death of her daughter must be a wake-up call for incidents like these never to reoccur.
Also calling for a ban was head of the Tobago Hotel and Tourism Association Reginald Mac Lean, who described the jet skis as ticking time bombs.
“They are ticking time bombs and they need to be gotten rid of; too many people around have been severely damaged and others have been killed.
“If these individuals are not willing to keep these jet skis out of the areas where they are not supposed to go, they should be banned completely from Trinidad and Tobago,” he said while speaking with the Express last week.
Mac Lean said there were many other water sports that could be enjoyed and were not as dangerous as using jet skis.
—with reporting by Elizabeth Williams
