00:00As the search continues for missing two-year-old Angelo Plaza in Tobago,
00:05following a relative's confession to killing the child and disposing of the body at sea,
00:11political leader of the IDA, Dr. Denise Soifat-Angus, says the tragedy raises troubling questions
00:17about domestic violence, intervention and the protection of vulnerable children.
00:22We all have to introspect on this case as to what was happening.
00:30Were there signs before of situations happening?
00:36Is there anything that persons ignored?
00:40And determine how could we have been treating with this such that it did not make it to this level?
00:47As it relates to the MV Blue Wave cargo vessel, Dr. Soifat-Angus describes the port-a-potty situation
00:55as a serious sanitation and public health concern.
00:58She says while the THA publicly praised the vessel and its operations,
01:03it must now also address mounting problems affecting the public and outline how the matter will be resolved.
01:10The stench is affecting persons, affecting workers, because it's both workers and travellers that you have this.
01:19There are no immediate water facilities available to wash hands afterwards.
01:25And so it is a public health nightmare waiting to happen.
01:29She also weighs in on concerns from jet ski operators over the recently passed marine legislation
01:36following the fatal jet ski incident in Tobago.
01:39She says operators feel sidelined and disrespected and also fear the new regulations including a hefty fine of $100,000
01:48and other restrictions could threaten their livelihoods if proper consultation and balance are not achieved.
01:56They're like, what formula did you use to get to $100,000 if you break as a fine?
02:02So there are a number of areas that they do have concerns with and they are not going to sit
02:09on their laurens and say they can't do anything about it.
02:13In fact, they are mobilizing to do a petition in order to be heard.
02:17So they are not going to sit back and take this at all.
02:20The IDA leader maintains that while public safety is critical, the protection of livelihoods must also form part of the
02:28national conversation.
02:30Nicole M. Romany, TV6 News.
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