00:00Police officers investigating Sunday's boating accident met with relatives of the victims today
00:05as the search for the five missing persons continues.
00:09Investigators are giving the assurance that the integrity of the investigation is intact
00:13and that they are doing all in their power to ensure that justice is ultimately served.
00:18Ernessa Cutting reports.
00:21The martyrs are seeking to assure the public tonight
00:24that the investigation is being carried out without fear, malice, favor or ill will.
00:30Amid rising tensions on the ground.
00:32Police say they are taking the time to build a solid case
00:36even as no arrests have been made at this time.
00:39Police officers met with the families of the boating accident victims today
00:43as the search enters day three for the five persons missing at sea.
00:49Relatives of the victims had expressed hurt and disappointment
00:52over what they perceived as silence from the authorities
00:56and had even questioned whether some untoward influence was being exerted behind the scenes.
01:02Hence the reason that we are here to meet with the family and certainly with yourself, right?
01:10There are things that are going behind the scenes that will not be of the forefront
01:15and although you may not be aware of it
01:17there are things that are taking place in relation to the investigation
01:20but we must ensure that this investigation is free, fair and impartial to all parties concerned.
01:30Police say the investigation is at a sensitive stage as the groundwork is still being laid.
01:36We are doing our investigations and we are in the process of recording statements.
01:41Some would have been recorded.
01:42Okay.
01:43So we have to allow persons time to report.
01:47Where would you say the investigation is at this time?
01:52Still in the fact finding stage.
01:54Is anyone in custody or is there any person of interest who has been identified
01:58and is possibly assisting the police?
02:00And I could say we are collecting all the information
02:03and then we will make a proper determination on the facts collected.
02:09It must take our time to correlate proper information in going forward.
02:15Rescue efforts are still underway.
02:17However, as time passes, the likelihood of the operation transitioning to recovery is likely.
02:24Is there any provision now?
02:26As the lady was asking, in the event that bodies are not found,
02:30is there any provision that speaks to, do you still consider something like that to be manslaughter or murder?
02:37Or would you still say that the person is presumed dead legally?
02:40Can you all do that?
02:42No, there are laws for that and we will cross that bridge when we get to that area.
02:48The police are asking for the public's cooperation,
02:51particularly as it relates to social media activity.
02:55It is illegal to share any footage of minors
02:58and we will advise members of the public to desist from doing so.
03:05Renasa Cutting, TB6 News.
03:07Meantime, a spokesperson for the victim's families say
03:11they are comforted by the assurance of the TTPS
03:14and they are hopeful for a favorable outcome.
03:18The police are supposed to, the same information we're hearing,
03:21we assume that they are hearing.
03:23They would have expressed that they are to document everything and so on and so forth.
03:27And we hope that within that documenting of whatever evidence and all that,
03:33the necessary persons are held accountable.
03:35At this time, I can't confirm or deny who that may be.
03:39We can only confirm what we've been hearing.
03:42But when that investigation comes to our head and they believe that they have the necessary information,
03:48whoever, excuse me, sorry, whoever would have been involved,
03:52we hope that those persons are held accountable.
03:55And I think that is what justice would look like.
03:57Family members of the victims are also responding to reports that a well-known attorney and political figure
04:03has been retained by a party in the matter.
04:08We're seeking legal advice ourselves.
04:12And when coming to certain things, we will ultimately let an attorney speak on that aspect.
04:17But right now, we are just hoping that things can be done transparently,
04:23things can be done fairly.
04:26And, you know, the words of the officers is that that is what they are hoping as well,
04:30and that is what they are achieving or trying to achieve.
04:33At this current time, we are just doing what we can to get the support we need.
04:41As I said, I think the main focus right now is just getting our family members back
04:47in whatever condition that they may be in.
04:49We just want to see them again.
04:51And after that, we know the other things, the investigation and all these different things,
04:56and we are open to whatever that may bring.
