Elizabeth Gonzales
The Tobago House of Assembly (THA) has defended the actions of the joint patrol team, following public criticism over the use of armed Coast Guard to treat with non-compliance of reef operators at the Buccoo Marine Park.
A short video over the weekend showed a Coast Guard official comforting a child onboard the vessel who became frightened and inconsolable by seeing the armed officer.
The team, consisting of the Division’s Department of Marine Resources and Fisheries crew and the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard Division, confronted a reef operator at Buccoo Reef Marine Park.
Officials found the operator’s boat without proper registration, insurance, and licensing documentation and carrying too many passengers. The captain of this vessel had been warned multiple times of being in breach of the park's regulations, putting passengers' safety at risk.
The Coast Guard officers boarded the boat and escorted it back to the jetty. The THA, in a release on Wednesday, apologised for any inconvenience caused but emphasized that the team’s actions were necessary to enforce park regulations and ensure passenger safety. They have advised all tour operators to have the required documents to avoid penalties.