00:00Stakeholders in the marine tourism sector say, while jet skis are a significant part
00:05of the island's visitor experience and economic activity, the industry must be far better
00:11managed to prevent further tragedies.
00:14President of the Store Bay Relief Tour Organization and owner of Frankie Tows Tobago, Michael
00:20Frank says, existing policies and regulations are in place to govern the sector, but not
00:27all operators are complying.
00:29You have what you call a rogue element, regardless of all the education and all that, there's
00:35a rogue element that is still going to come out and do what they want whenever they want
00:39to because there are no enforcement and because there are nobody there to stop there.
00:43However, he's pushing back against calls for a total ban, arguing that properly regulated
00:49jet ski activity remains vital to Tobago's tourism.
00:53The thing about it is that because it is an important part of tourism, people don't want
00:58to just come here and sit and do nothing.
01:00You have to find ways to make them enjoy themselves.
01:04So everything is needed.
01:06We can't remove anything from tourism.
01:08We have to add it because we don't have enough as Tobago stands presently.
01:12Meanwhile, marine specialist and executive member of the Tobago Dive Operators Association,
01:18Alvin Douglas, says operators are required to be properly licensed and certified, but implementation
01:26remains an issue.
01:28In order for you to operate on the waters, maritime has to clear you.
01:35It has to be licensed.
01:36In order for you to operate in the tourism sphere and rent, you have to have insurances
01:44to make sure and you have to have the training for these crafts.
01:48OK, so collectively, we have all failed.
01:53He is calling for designated zones for jet ski activity, warning that unrestricted operations
02:01significantly increases the risk to public safety.
02:05I can hear a boat underwater on the horizon, but you can't hear a jet ski.
02:11By the time the jet ski comes over you, by the time you look to evade the jet ski, it's
02:18already over and it's going to cause a lot of damage.
02:21Both stakeholders agree that while authorities moved to restrict activity in the area on
02:27Thursday, without firm enforcement and concrete action, it will remain business as usual on
02:34the ground.
02:35Nicole M. Romany, TV6 News.
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