Pigeon Point Heritage Park remained closed on Thursday, a day after a tragic jet ski incident claimed the life of seven-year-old Angelica Jogie.
TTT News visited nearby Store Bay, where vacationers gathered, but the mood was noticeably subdued in the wake of the tragedy.
Though many were reluctant to speak on camera, several beachgoers expressed the need for stronger regulations and stricter enforcement to protect bathers from jet skis and other marine vessels.
One vacationer said his family was left shaken after witnessing Wednesday’s incident at Pigeon Point.
“Well, my vibes is kind of cut, so I am heading out tonight, going to get a standby to head out. I actually supposed to leave weekend but it is an unfortunate situation. The atmosphere here in Tobago is a bit tense right now. You feeling it.”
While he commended the efforts of lifeguards and emergency responders, he expressed concern that similar incidents could occur elsewhere.
“We face the same issues in the Nylon Pool, you know, we have our kids there, jet skis are running up and down, these banana boats, you know, it is very, very dangerous outside there.”
Following these concerns, the owner of Cool Runnings Tours, Ronnie Elliot, told TTT News he is discouraging his patrons from engaging with jet ski operators while visiting the reef.
“People who go on Cool Runnings would know, this is one of the things I let them know, when we doing the briefing we are not aligned with the jet skis and the food on No Man’s Land.”
He described the ongoing situation as unbearable.
“These jet skis have been out there with these little guys, well we call them miscreants, these little miscreants out there just behaving the worst and nobody could speak to them.”
Meanwhile, the President of the Store Bay Reef Tour Association, Michael Frank, also called for stronger enforcement to prevent future tragedies.
“If you train people in the correct way, then there will be no issue about where to go, where to go, how to go, and the second thing is enforcement. If there is enough enforcement, then that cannot happen.”
Just last week, the Tobago House of Assembly introduced new regulations governing the use and operations within the Buccoo Reef Marine Park.
Police have since confirmed that a 32-year-old man is currently being questioned in connection with the incident.