Our reaction certainly needs checking!

While road accidents dominated the season, we must still heap kudos on the police officers for their whole management of Spicemas, the breathalyzer testing for alcohol was a necessary feature.

This week, two serious incidents have brought to mind the way our people respond to incidents which in some cases are very serious. We think that our preventive methods are lacking, a conclusion we came to by dissecting the incident where the woman went missing at sea after being seen swimming out to the ocean which was the first one to stir international interest. Then comes the next incident where two visitors died as a result of a boat accident again in Grand Anse.

As we follow the account of the people who were the last to see the woman who swam out alive and even had a conversation with her, the question is -why didn’t they still alert the police that a woman is swimming out to the ocean alone? We say all the time that ‘Tourism is everybody’s business.’ So let’s live it. The mere fact that the people on the Jet Skis chose to engage her, is a telling sign that their gut feeling was that something was very wrong. So, despite the fact that she said that she was okay, the police should have still been alerted via a phone call, because something was amiss. Then it will be up to the officers to take whatever action is deemed necessary. When we see something, let’s start saying something in time which can avoid tragedies. Too many times we post things in social media after the fact.

Interestingly, a post in social media has quoted her husband as saying that she was never a good swimmer while there are reports that she claimed to be good at sea; in fact, according to the husband, she always depended on flotillas when going to the beach.  So, while we are giving the eye witnesses who saw her last, the benefit of the doubt, why did she choose to lie? With the disappearance of the body all physical evidence of her state of mind is lost. But maybe the friend who chose to make that ‘missing person report’ about five hours later, can revisit even their last conversation and provide circumstantial evidence. They were living together for the short while in Grenada. According to reports, that friend was picked up on camera going to the jetty and looking out to sea before quickly returning to their place of residence. Why was that necessary? Answers are definitely needed!

The next issue concerns the two women in that fatal accident on Grand Anse Beach as they came into contact with the boat’s propeller after having a good time on board. Many people who claimed to be eyewitnesses have posted their stories –each with a different slant. While there are reports that the women jumped off the boat, people who are familiar with party boats in Grenada know that there are proper procedures to follow in getting on and off. So, why were they allowed to jump into the sea? Were other people jumping as well? Are they not familiar enough with boats to know the danger of getting too close while the engine is still running?

Another report posted by ‘a Trisha’ said that she gave information to the police and stated that the women did not jump but, got off as everybody else and then started to swim. She posted that she observed that one woman was struggling to get the other to swim. Wasn’t that a tell-tale sign that something was wrong? While we are not jumping to conclusions, it is a known fact that people do consume alcohol in parties and again this is vacation time for a lot of visitors. The mere fact that the so called eyewitness observed that one woman was trying to help the next, was enough to see that they needed help then. It seems that her call for help was a bit late as stated in her post which we have chosen to share with our readers.

Trisha Antoine:

The victims did not jump! I was on the white boat where the two victims were also enjoying their time. When the boat docked, I witnessed them swim past me where they were holding on to each other like one was helping the other swim. I spoke to them briefly before they swam past me. No more than ten minutes later, one victim’s body was floating from where the propellers were and I personally called for help. Let’s not victim-blame here. I’ve jumped from boats before and done so safely. Let’s not create fake scenarios and assumptions if you weren’t there to witness it. I wish I never [had to] witness anything like this. Wouldn’t wish it on anyone. I have given my information to the police so the correct narrative can be out there for their families. May they both rest in eternal peace.

Well, the boat is now grounded while investigations take place by the police as to why the women had chosen to swim close to a boat with the engine running, and this means losing finance big time.

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