00:00Attorney at Law and Maritime Law Specialist Nairi Alfonso says the absence of a clear
00:06legal framework for boat operators leaves critical safety issues including passenger
00:12limits inadequately addressed.
00:15She believes overloading may have also been an issue in this instance.
00:20If you are a boat above this size you can carry that amount of passengers.
00:24If you are this size you can carry that amount of passengers.
00:27We don't have that legislation.
00:30So we have some persuasive powers of the Coast Guard to regulate safety.
00:37Maritime Services Division has the same thing as the Maritime Services Division is a division
00:43under the Ministry of Works and Transport.
00:45But do they have hard solid legislation behind them?
00:50The answer regrettably is no.
00:51Alfonso further stresses that operators must also be properly authorized with permits and
00:58regulations governing the operation of pleasure craft.
01:02I would not be allowed to go into Massey Motors, purchase a vehicle, jump in and drive on the
01:08road unless I had a drive, well legally anyway, I had a driver's license.
01:13And in order to get a driver's license I would have done a written test.
01:18I would have passed a practical exam and I would have a piece of, well plastic, you know, evidencing
01:27that I am licensed to drive a motor vehicle.
01:30We have no such a review in Trinidad and Tobago.
01:32Anybody could buy anything and jump in it and be captain.
01:36She adds that the issue of miners operating vessels must also be addressed through proper regulations.
01:43One of the things I would say, there's a long history of miners operating vessels.
01:48The current draft policy does appreciate that historical position on the ground and it provides
02:00for a miner can drive, as we say in Trinidad, a boat under adult supervision.
02:06The maritime specialist is urging the authorities to put proper laws in place now before another
02:20tragedy occurs.
02:22We've had previous incidents where people have received significant injuries and loss of
02:28limbs and all manner of things and loss of life.
02:31So, you know, how many wake up calls do you require?
02:35I mean, the alarm clock has been going off for a while.
02:38So what we need is the willpower by persons who are in the corridors of power to understand
02:45that we need to prioritize this.
02:48Nicole M. Romany, TV6 News.
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