00:00Mr. Speaker, through you to the Minister of Defense, in light of Sunday's tragic marine collision off Shagramas, which left
00:08persons missing at sea and bodies being recovered, can the Minister state what assets were deployed at the time of
00:15the accident to rescue slash recover victims?
00:19The question raised by Dego Martin West MP Hans Deveens on behalf of the opposition during Friday's sitting of the
00:27House of Representatives about the collision between a blue and white pirogue and the pleasure craft Bambaleo.
00:33Defense Minister Wayne Sturge has line responsibility for the Coast Guard.
00:38Mr. Speaker, the events of last Sunday are very unfortunate events. The government wishes to commiserate and express its condolences
00:58to the families of those whose lives were lost.
01:05Just one day before the lower house convened on Friday, Minister Sturge held a meeting on Thursday with the families
01:12of those who had gone missing following the boating tragedy.
01:16With regard to the question, permit me to say, having regard to the fact that these events are now the
01:31subject of a police investigation, it would be unwise to reveal too much, and more particularly, what is requested at
01:41this stage.
01:42I do, however, pledge on behalf of the government to make a comprehensive statement on this matter at the appropriate
01:54time.
01:55MP Deveens is a follow-up question letter and intervention by House Speaker Jack Dale Singh.
02:00It's a tragic time in the constituency of Digo Martin West, especially when questions like this can't be answered. Supplemental.
02:09Can the Minister indicate what additional Coast Guard patrol assets and active enforcement mechanisms are being deployed in Shagaramas and
02:17other coastal waters to help prevent in future tragedies of this sort?
02:25Mr. Minister, I'm of the view that that does not qualify as a legitimate supplemental question.
02:31Mr. Member, you have a second question.
02:32The second supplemental question led to another intervention by the Speaker.
02:38To the Minister of Defence, what do you have to say to these families that are grieving today?
02:48Mr. Member, have a seat, have a seat, have a seat.
02:51This is a question, you know, this is not, look, you've been here a year and more.
02:58I don't think I need to elucidate these standing orders to you, all right?
03:01So, okay, let's move to the next item of business on the order paper, please.
03:06The House of Representatives continued with the rest of its proceedings.
03:11Jewel Brown, TV6 News.
03:16Jewel Brown, TV6 News.
