THA Chief Secretary Farley Augustine has issued a warning to tour operators conducting business within the Buccoo Marine Park, insisting on full compliance with all existing rules and regulations or face legal consequences.
His comments follow Wednesday’s fatal incident at Pigeon Point Heritage Park involving a jet ski operator and seven-year-old Angelica Jogie.
Speaking during a media briefing on Thursday, Mr. Augustine made it clear that the Tobago House of Assembly will no longer tolerate breaches of the law by operators using THA-owned spaces.
“I don’t care who among them operators vex, and I have said to the Secretaries responsible that I tired of meeting, so I am not going and meet with nobody, lay down the rules that they have to follow by or they cannot operate in spaces owned by the THA, full stop. Who vex loss.”
Mr. Augustine said the circumstances surrounding the incident may represent a breach of existing regulations, adding that while the THA cannot pursue criminal charges, civil proceedings are being considered.
“We don’t have authority to take action in terms of going through the route of criminal court with them, but we can take civil action against them, and we very much intend to do so to the extent where we will bankrupt some of them who don’t know how to behave.”
The Chief Secretary also revealed that stronger and more robust enforcement measures will be implemented within the next two weeks but said the effort will require greater cooperation from law enforcement agencies.
“It cannot be that Store Bay operates within walking distance from a police station and we have the most selling of weed, the hustling and antagonising of patrons, fights, sometimes leading to wounds among perpetrators.”
The Chief Secretary again expressed heartfelt condolences to the Jogie family and assured that the THA will continue to provide support where possible.