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5 tourists on 2 Tortola beaches narrowly escape drowning

- 3 tourists almost drowned @ Cane Garden Bay beach last week & another 2 @ Smuggler’s Cove; both beaches are without lifeguards
According to reports reaching Virgin Islands News Online, three cruise ship tourists nearly drowned at Cane Garden Bay beach (left) and two at Smuggler's Cove beach on Monday January 11, 2016. None of the beaches have lifeguards. Photo: VINO/File
The Lifeguard Programme pulled out of Cane Garden Bay Beach in November of 2011. The Conservation and Fisheries Department which runs the Lifeguard Programme said lack of government financial support ended the programme. The Lifeguard Programme never operated at Smuggler’s Cove Beach. There are also no Beach Lifeguards at one of the most popular beaches on the sister island of Virgin Gorda, The Baths. Photo: Internet Source
The Lifeguard Programme pulled out of Cane Garden Bay Beach in November of 2011. The Conservation and Fisheries Department which runs the Lifeguard Programme said lack of government financial support ended the programme. The Lifeguard Programme never operated at Smuggler’s Cove Beach. There are also no Beach Lifeguards at one of the most popular beaches on the sister island of Virgin Gorda, The Baths. Photo: Internet Source
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- It was last week Monday January 11, 2016 that our newsroom received several phone calls about two serious incidents that could have plunged the Virgin Islands and its tourism sector into a negative light.

Word reaching our newsroom and information from other sources close to the incident confirmed that three cruise ship tourists were swimming at Cane Garden Bay beach when they were involved in a mishap that could have led to their drowning.

While swimming at one of the most popular beaches on Tortola, they experienced swimming challenges and had to be rescued by other swimmers, and a ship agent. The three persons were all returned to land safely.

The Cane Garden Bay beach has no lifeguards.

The same day January 11, 2016 there was another near tragedy. This time, two cruise ship tourists had to be rescued from downing at Smuggler’s Cove beach, which is located on the western end of Tortola. The two tourists were brought back to safety by other swimmers and locals at the beach.

Smuggler’s Cove beach is yet another beach without any lifeguards. There are also reports by an eyewitness that the next day, Tuesday January 12, 2016 two other tourists also experienced swimming mishaps and had to be rescued from drowning at Smuggler’s Cove.

A senior Government Official, speaking to our newsroom on condition of anonymity, said “we have to be thankful that the five visitors’ lives were all saved or else that would have been a serious blow to the issue of beach safety and our tourism sector.”

No Lifeguard programme; no money

Last year November saw the death of a tourist while swimming at Cane Garden Bay beach. The Lifeguard Programme pulled out of Cane Garden Bay beach in November of 2011. The Conservation and Fisheries Department, which runs the Lifeguard Programme, said lack of government financial support ended the programme.

The Programme never operated at Smuggler’s Cove beach. There are also no Beach Lifeguards at one of the most popular beaches on the sister island of Virgin Gorda, The Baths.

Currently, the Lifeguard Programme only operates at one beach on Tortola- Josiah’s Bay- with none on the sister islands.

The staff is only three, with two lifeguards and a supervisor. With the National Democratic Party (NPP) Government reportedly leaving the Treasury broke after the June 8, 2015 elections, according to critics, there appears to be no plans to expand the programme in the soon to come 2016 Budget.

Acting Chief Conservation and Fisheries Officer Kelvin Penn has continued to refer all inquiries on this topic to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Labour.

32 Responses to “5 tourists on 2 Tortola beaches narrowly escape drowning”

  • ccc (17/01/2016, 14:56) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    Oh my
    • Taxi driver (17/01/2016, 19:58) Like (15) Dislike (12) Reply
      having life guards was not the cause, the damn beaches was rough on the north side all week, what we need is brandywine bay beach open so we can have more choices, when the minister was doing his best to get that done, it was put on hold, we just crazy here in the bvi!
  • shaw (17/01/2016, 15:04) Like (27) Dislike (9) Reply
    So they found $7 million to bring the people here to drown? This government need to fire these consultants
  • Hmm (17/01/2016, 15:11) Like (20) Dislike (26) Reply
    why keep commenting on the negative? Why not report it as a business venture that one should undertake. Everything is Government and then every body wants to sue Government. I am so sick of these websites. I can clearly see why they need to be censored.
    • @ Hmm (17/01/2016, 18:19) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
      ok snow man
    • @ Hmm (17/01/2016, 18:24) Like (9) Dislike (3) Reply
      jump high jump low you cannot stop the truth in a democrtic society, for once the media repeorts the truth I am with them 100 % and VINO like it or not have a perfect record on the facts for the word on the streets is, if its on VINO you can bit your life on it in other words you can take it to the BANK!
      • Jan (18/01/2016, 11:42) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
        How do you know it is the truth? Because you chose to believe something does not make it true.
  • OMG (17/01/2016, 15:21) Like (26) Dislike (3) Reply
    Look how our sector will get killed over a few thousand dollars for lifeguards. Just put the thing under the BVI Tourist Board as some of that millions of dollars they using on overseas advertising could go to keep the lifeguard programme alive.

    This government lack brains and creative solutions it’s so SAD!
  • Concerned (17/01/2016, 15:59) Like (21) Dislike (5) Reply
    Why do we need a bigger Airport? Why are we wasting money for an Airline which will hardly get any business, if we cannot even protect our precious tourists coming to us now?
  • wize up (17/01/2016, 16:20) Like (6) Dislike (3) Reply
    was this item cleared by Penn & Harrigan ( my goodness, I am just asking)....
  • Political Observer (17/01/2016, 17:55) Like (15) Dislike (0) Reply
    Not manning all the major beaches with life guards is negligent, exercising scant regard for the health and safety of both locals and visitors, underserving the tourist product, and being penny wise and pound foolish. The increasing number of swimming incidents some of which are fatal is not good for the industry. Invest the resources to protect human life and the industry. Tourism is one of two major industries composing the the economy. The water is the primary draw for the industry. As such, safety is an important factor and vital to keeping the water as a major draw. In addition to safety, the continued quality of the water is vitally important. The degradation of the water will lower the BVI as a top, small, regional destination. The water must be protected to meet its intended purpose, i.e., swimming, snorkeling, fishing, skiing, boating......etc.
  • comeon (17/01/2016, 18:11) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    For a territory with such potential for marine activities, I find that there is not enough appreciation for the required protection of life and lack of beach safety measures. The numerous beaches provide a year-round venue for the swimming enjoyment of residents and visitors alike. The visitors spend dearly to get to enjoy our beaches. Public-private partnerships are required to restart the lifeguard programme that has gone dormant – for the lack of funds? Not good enough.
    The required training of lifeguards to enhance their skills and knowledge is a continuous activity that needs to be in place. The government seriously needs to consider re-starting the provision of lifeguard services at especially the most popular beaches throughout the territory and to contact partners in the tourism industry for joint sponsorship of the programme. The same government that can find private partners with whom to invest $7 million in an airline can surely find private partners to help protect beachgoers, who find themselves in difficulty. Formal competitions can be developed as a way to encourage training, and also as a social activity. Tourists will come and enjoy our beaches and return home to tell others the good news. How about it?
  • VG-1 (17/01/2016, 19:23) Like (21) Dislike (2) Reply

    You need to realize that the present government will only invest in what they themselves will get their pockets filled with money.. they don't care about the people of this territory nor it needs. And for those of you who said in previous comments that this is a democratic society, please think and come again. We are now ruled by dictatorship. who don't realize it is because they don't want to. There is no help from the Governor, England or anyone else to free us from these tyrants. the only thing they do is tax the locals while their rich friends spend our dollars and get everything free. Every rope has an end somewhere. Looks like UP*****G IS THE ONLY SOLUTION HERE.

  • too busy on barson jet (17/01/2016, 21:04) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    Who is the minister of beaches?
  • ----""""'--''' (17/01/2016, 21:08) Like (4) Dislike (1) Reply
    I still maintain NDP must go!
  • Tourist (17/01/2016, 21:33) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    You can blame prickling... He say Goverment can't supplie lifeguard on all beaches and now all.... I don't know where he got that infomation from them need to get fired ....no where in the world have lifeguards on all beaches that impossible ....do your home work Ndp...beaches like cane, smuggle, josiha's, are the 3 most popular beaches on the island of Tortola give them a 400.000 budget that ain't going dent you pocket Ndp that's small change that you ain't going miss after over spending millions here and there
  • Local (17/01/2016, 22:48) Like (4) Dislike (1) Reply
    Its riptide season, a simple sign dont cost much
  • ndp (17/01/2016, 22:54) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    We're bringing in tourists here and not protecting them.
  • shaw (18/01/2016, 00:24) Like (8) Dislike (2) Reply
    When the north side is rough no amount of lifeguards can help. On smugglers there used to be yellow and red flags
    for warnings about undertow. End of Long Bay also has undertow and is dangerous. The more soft cruise ship people using the beaches without understanding of how to look at the water is a problem which will only get worse when crowds and weather collide. Yes, we need lifeguards on key beaches, but it would be nice to have those flags for when there aren't any and we need warning. Who will do that? Pickering, police? someone assigned to oversee each district on many issues?
    • dog (18/01/2016, 10:11) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      Shaw- I agree about flags helping but if someone is on vacation they are relaxed and assume everything is safe. They can't look at the water, locals need to look at the water and post the flags if a lifeguard is not there.
  • just asking... (18/01/2016, 06:05) Like (2) Dislike (3) Reply
    What about people doing it for free
  • S.R. (18/01/2016, 06:13) Like (3) Dislike (2) Reply
    No life guards on ALL beaches in a tourist economy is really stupid. But spending on this does not line pockets. Wait until cruise ships insist and make it part of their deal, or until tourism leaves. Spend it on Pier Park!!!!
  • vex (18/01/2016, 07:48) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    Ndp left the cuntry broke where will they find th mony to pay or life guards
  • ndp (18/01/2016, 09:45) Like (4) Dislike (1) Reply
    What about getting some of the service clubs Like Rotary and Lions and the Masons etc. to do this as volunteers? All they do is join for networking but never do anything for the local people
  • laddy G (18/01/2016, 19:31) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    My two cents. Visitors should know the difference between safety and danger. I used to be around a certain beach, visitors will come, you'll tell them stay close to shore cause it's to rough to swim. They will watch you like what this black person is saying. Next thing you hear them out in the ocean calling for help cause they went too far out. People should have the common sense to know that if the water is rough stay out of it period.
  • Live there (18/01/2016, 20:06) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    You could LOOK at that water and know it was not safe to go in. But they go anyway.
  • see here now (18/01/2016, 23:26) Like (16) Dislike (0) Reply
    Keep in mind a good amount of these tourists come from land locked states meaning they seldom see the ocean and many of them will tell you that.......so, ......when they come here they just want to live on the beach.

    You may want to educate them about the riptide before they leave the ship with some well placed, informative brochures....then reinforce it with the signs and flags on the beaches....CYA ......and do something....
  • OF Course (19/01/2016, 21:56) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Overnight guests tend to want to learn more about the destination which includes where to swim etc. These cruise-shippers often do not. They are not all the sharpest and everything is laid on Disney style and they can't get their heads around something real. I once heard a complaint that a nurse shark nipped a man - because he put his hand in an otherwise harmless wild being's mouth!!

    We don't need to be a poor man's Ocho rios. We need to be a better alternative to st Barth, Anguilla, Dominca, Barbados.

    taxi drivers could tell them the danger but just grabbing the dollars and driving like idiots.

    VISAR ought to be given annual resources from govt to run this and regular affordable swimming lessons for residents, which ought to be mandatory in primary school.
  • ah wonder (20/01/2016, 09:34) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    ah wonder if the swimmers noticed that there were no lifeguards at the beach before they got into the water and headed out?
  • Hello... (12/04/2016, 14:16) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Sadly last Friday a husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend drowned in Tortola... he road the wave to heaven his daughter said.... He was sailing on a cruise line and that was where the ship docked and the tourist made their way to their destination for the day... He was life flighted to Florida and was removed from life support on Sunday.. take this time and hug your loved one... Take this time to educate someone about the ocean.. May God bless this kind loving man and welcome him with open arms... Rest in piece...


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