The Tobago House of Assembly (THA) is moving to implement stricter controls on operations at the Buccoo Marine Park and Pigeon Point Heritage Park following a jet ski accident that left a seven-year-old girl dead and her relatives injured.

Angelica Jogie died on April 8 after she was struck by a runaway jet ski while in waters designated for bathing at Pigeon Point.

The incident occurred around 4:30 pm as Angelica and members of her family were in the water. She, along with her father and uncle, was hit by the jet ski.

She suffered severe injuries to her head and body.

Bystanders and lifeguards assisted the injured and Angelica was taken to the Scarborough General Hospital, where she later died.

The jet ski operator fled the scene but was arrested the following morning, according to a report.

Speaking at a media briefing after the incident, Chief Secretary Farley Augustine said the situation highlights ongoing issues with rule-breaking in the marine parks.

“It just goes to show when people don’t follow rules that we end up with tragedy,” he said.

Augustine said that despite regulations being in place, many jet ski and boat operators continue to flout the rules.

He said the Buccoo Marine Park was closed on April 9 to facilitate investigations and out of respect for the grieving family.

The THA will also meet with staff to determine whether established protocols were followed.

The THA Secretary with responsibility for legal affairs is expected to outline the Assembly’s legal position at a post-executive media conference on April 9.

Augustine noted that the THA has previously been held liable in a similar incident at Pigeon Point.

In 2010, the High Court ruled that the THA and the Pigeon Point Heritage Park Ltd were liable for injuries suffered by Trinidadian Yanik Quesnel and his then girlfriend, Carolina Barry-Laso of Spain, after they were struck by a speedboat while swimming near the shoreline in June 2007.

Quesnel, who was a teenager at the time, was left paralysed from the neck down.

Augustine said safety at the marine parks was one of the issues he raised with Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar during a meeting two weeks ago.

He noted that legislation sent to the central government since 2020 has not yet been tabled in Parliament.

According to Augustine, the THA is currently in a
“predicament”, as it can establish policies to govern operations in the marine parks but does not have the authority to empower police to charge individuals who breach those policies.

He said he has instructed THA secretaries to implement “extreme and stringent measures” to protect the parks and ensure the safety of
users.

Augustine said he is prepared to face criticism over stricter enforcement, adding that he is frustrated by continued non-compliance.

“We have had enough. We keep talking, we keep begging, we keep writing, we keep having meetings and people just keep doing their own
thing,” he said.

He urged police and maritime officers to enforce existing laws and hold offenders accountable in Tobago’s marine environment.

He also called for regular enforcement exercises, not only during peak vacation periods.