Beach goers, local and foreigners, looking forward to visit popular beaches Maracas Bay and Las Cuevas for the July/August vacation period are being warned to either stay away or visit at their own risk.
This warning came yesterday from lifeguards who are stationed at the most popular tourist attractions in the country.
They said the non-functional towers, poor working conditions, lack of the appropriate equipment and machinery and the availability of only one ambulance, which serves as more of a transport vehicle rather than one well-equipped with life-saving machines was to blame for their action.
According to lifeguard spokesperson, Augustus Sylvester, they are unable to efficiently and effectively carry out their duties.
On Sunday, three people got into difficulties at Maracas Bay, two died. The drowning victims were identified as Premchand Ramlal, 50, of Fyzabad and Sandra Singh, 53, of Penal. The survivor was identified as a Canadian national Ron Rampersad.
Augustus said he believes that the drownings could have been prevented if they had only received that promised meeting with the Minister of National Security, Edmund Dillon back in April.
He said that they had a proposal which included having a 24-hour lifeguard watch in place at the two beaches.
“One of the proposal is to have a skeleton staff after hours, overnight. The Minister promised to meet with us on April 24 but it never happened. We are being treated like the bastard children of the ministry. Who knows if they had sit down with us to discuss those people may have been alive today,” Sylvester said.
Another proposal Sylvester had was the refurbishment of the lifeguard towers, which were so deplorable that they have now cordoned off with caution tape. He said lifeguards are now forced to patrol the shore line and stand watch from the shoreline.
“So…right now I don’t think it is safe for members of the public to come to the beach because of the conditions. If they do, it will be a risk that they will be taking in terms of their own safety because, we, the lifeguards are not guaranteeing their safety because of the present conditions we work under,” he said. RD
“Because of this, us being on the sand, we are at a disadvantage because we don’t have a clear view of the Bay and our vision is blocked by the people on the beach. The towers we would have that height advantage but now that we can’t use it, we don’t,” Sylvester said.
Sylvester said during the rainy season people should not take the water for granted.
“The sea may look calm but because we are in the hurricane season it can change within hours and we can then have rough seas with very strong rip currents, which would make it worst for us because of the lack of that height advantage we are now faced with because our towers are unsafe,” he said.
Lifeguards usual duty hours are from 10 am to 5.30 pm and Sylvester is suggesting that it could either be extended with a raise of salary or a shift system being implemented.
He said the lone ambulance, which he said is only equipped with a stretcher, did not have any life-saving equipment on board.
“No oxygen masks, no resuscitating machines, nothing like that. Not to mention that this ambulance serves not only Maracas Bay but Las Cuevas and for the past two months, Blanchisseuse. The residents call us for help with the ambulance, even the police at times,” he said.
