Maracas Bay stakeholders say private security officers and police officers armed with guns and tasers are desperately needed at the beach immediately.
The call was made by lifeguards, vendors and beachgoers yesterday as Guardian Media returned to the area two days after a gun attack left Keidon Williams dead and three others wounded. They said Sunday’s deadly shooting was just an eye-opener highlighting the grave security and safety concerns which now make spending time at T&Ts premier beach, which is also a major tourist attraction, problematic.
A lifeguard, who wished not to be named, said there is a private security firm based on the eastern end of the beach at the moment, but noted that nobody, not even the lifeguards, knows their role and function.
“They are dressed in black and you see them unarmed and walking the beach just midway, sometimes once a day and you don’t see them again,” he said.
“There is the need for precepted officers on the beach patrolling regular, because there are so many things happening such as fights, robberies, people stealing cars or things from people’s cars and we see and can’t do anything, even we have to act or call the police after man head get buss or whatever the case may be.”
Food vendor Ryan Mangli, from Tips on the Beach, also called for a heightened police presence.
“There are police officers patrolling but we need to see them more on the beach and uniformed ones too...the more police officers with uniforms will serve as a major deterrent,” he said.
Mangli, however, said that arming officers with non-lethal weapons such as tasers, batons and pepper spray should also be considered.
Security consultant Rolston De Coteau, of Pro-Line Audio and Security Systems, also recommended high visibility of security guards.
“This must be in the beach itself for a more stronger presence...CCTV cameras that are marine-grade should be installed at strategic locations along the beach and bars, also at entry and exit points to and from the beach. On public holidays and major beach events where there’s expected thousands of people flocking the beach, there should be some kind of air surveillance, for example drones,” De Coteau said.
De Coteau also suggested that the number of beach chairs and umbrellas on the beach may also cause a serious security and safety concern should an emergency occur.
“The increasing numbers of open umbrellas and beach chairs would cause poor visibility and mobility for patrolling officers on the beach.”
However, the T&T Guardian was told by beach chair vendor Alexander Pierre that from tomorrow (Thursday) there will be two designated areas on either end of the beach to set up. He said this will put a damper on their business.
“Now it takes us about five minutes to set up someone and with the new system, it would take us 20 minutes to set up someone. We will only be allowed 40 chairs and umbrellas in our tents and when we have to replenish we will have to walk to the storerooms. It’s harder for us, “ Pierre said.
On Monday, Tourism Minister Randall Mitchell assured that “adequate security services, including officers from the Maracas Police Station, Municipal Police officers from the San Juan/Laventille Regional Corporation and private officers, are also being deployed at the Maracas Beach Facility.”
Mitchell further reassured that the management of the Maracas Beach Facility “aims to provide an enjoyable, safe and secure experience for all beachgoers especially during this peak holiday period.”