Buccoo Reef tour operators were left disappointed on Wednesday after their hopes of meeting with the Chief Secretary or another Tobago House of Assembly official were not realised.
What was intended as a crucial engagement instead ended in frustration, as operators gathered at the Canaan/Bon Accord Multi-Purpose Facility seeking long-awaited clarity on the Tobago Marine Parks Bill.
The group had written to Chief Secretary Farley Augustine seeking a meeting, but in a response, Mr. Augustine indicated the request came too late, noting that a meeting had already been held on April 13th, when concerns were addressed.
Despite this, the operators moved ahead voicing their concerns about the proposed legislation.
One tour operator, Michael Frank, said: “THA does not have enough facilities to maintain a standard operation on the reef. And if the reef is to be opened, we are saying from in the morning till in the night, maybe 10 o’clock or something like that, there are not enough operators to provide security. Look, simple things as a slipway, they talk about our boats are not supposed to be pulled up on the back of Pigeon Point, which we actually used for generations. But now, you cannot put nothing in place for a boat to pull up safely on the shore.”
Another tour operator, Dexter Black, said they believe some aspects of the Bill are too harsh, for instance, penalties and fees.
“The proposed permit should cover most of the fees. There are mooring fees, there is the fee for the permit, a lot of duplicity. We need clarity on that.”
Other concerns include details about zoning areas for jet skis and other motorised watercraft and parameters for enforcement and systems for data collection.
Meanwhile, head of the Tobago Marine Safety and Security Services, Alvin Douglas, urged his fellow operators to take responsibility for not operating under more professional standards.
“We are supposed to meet and make sure there is some sort of enforcement from the grassroots. Unfortunately, because of the incident, it has spiralled out where it looks as if these things are put in place, we are going to be affected.”
Chief Secretary Augustine said the Tobago Marine Parks Bill will be sent for Cabinet consideration.
The urgency of the Bill stems from a jet ski incident one month ago at Pigeon Point, which claimed the life of seven-year-old Saydie Jogie.