RADHICA DE SILVA
radhica.sookraj@guardian.co.tt
With a yellow-level hazardous sea alert in effect, lifeguards at Vessigny Beach are calling for additional manpower.
And with only four lifeguards on duty at the beach, residents say there are insufficient patrols at the beach, which usually sees an influx of over 2,000 people on any given weekend.
The guards operate with no proper equipment and even though two towers were erected on the beach, both are in a state of dilapidation.
Tower Two has already been condemned after the ramp fell flat. Tower One has a rickety ramp but despite this, the lifeguards still use it because it's the only way to have an aerial view of the beach.
Speaking to Guardian Media at Vessigny Beach, Eric Paul of Gonzales Village said people feel safe when they see guards on the beach.
"We know they are there to help us and too often we see beaches with people and no lifeguards," Paul said.
But Vessigny Lifeguard Patrol captain Jaudgswell James told Guardian Media they are underresourced as there should be eight guards on duty on a weekend, whether or not there is a rough seas bulletin.
He said emergencies often crop up, more on the shore, rather than the sea, as Vessigny is usually relatively calm. But he says because of this, many people venture further from shore, noting that it was important to have a tower to survey the beachfront.
"We need to have repairs done on the tower because when there is an emergency, we actually have to run all the way to the headquarters to get a first aid kit and ambukits or even a stretcher," he said. If the towers are refurbished, James said a wrap-around walkway should be built as well as a place for the first aid equipment.
He also said they operate with no ambulance and often when emergencies occur, they have to call 811 and wait for help.
"If we had an ambulance, we could save more lives," he said. He explained that even though recruits have been trained, the Ministry of National Security has failed to hire lifeguards over the past decade.
He said other beaches around the country were also faced with a shortage of lifeguards.
Meanwhile, lifeguard Ravi Sinanan said many lifeguards were demotivated.
"Apart from doing God's work and saving lives, there is really no motivation. The salary isn't good and the conditions we work under could be improved," Sinanan said.
He said because of the shortage of guards, they often experience burnout.
"We are not robots. We get tired too," he said.
And the vice president of the Association Karl Hernandez said lifeguards have been trained but no one has been recruited for the past decade. He said Minister of National Security Fitzgerald Hinds should meet with the lifeguards and assess their working conditions.
"We have no ambulance, no transportation to go from one area to the next, no proper equipment and most of all severe staffing shortages which the Minister has failed to address," Hernandez said.
During an earlier interview with Minister Hinds, he said the issues facing the lifeguards require attention. However, he did not confirm or deny whether any new guards will be hired. Further questions were sent to Minister Hinds on Thursday but no response was forthcoming.
