Only 2 lifeguards on duty in VI- SFC Report
The Member for the Second District Hon Melvin M. Turnbull had inquired whether or not, as cruise passengers visits increase to the shores from the cruise ships and day trippers, lifeguards would be placed on the beaches to prevent instances where people could be potentially injured or drowned.
The Acting Chief Conservation Officer Mr Kelvin Penn stated that the lifeguard programme has been a vexing programming, initially starting 15 years ago with 12 life guards on staff mainly from Australia and England. “However, over the years because of budgetary constraints the programme has been reduced and there are only 2 life guards on duty,” the SFC Report noted Mr Penn as saying.
It was also noted by Mr Penn that one of the problems the lifeguard programme has been facing is that it does not attract any benefits, including permanent and pensionable status.
Flags rather than lifeguards
According to the SFC Report, Mr Penn stated that he is in agreement that more life guards should be on duty and in the past the idea of flags was used rather than actual lifeguards on beaches.
Hon Turnbull had also inquired as to which beach the two lifeguards were stationed.
The Acting Chief Conservation Officer stated that prior to the hurricanes the lifeguards were mostly stationed in Josiah’s Bay and after the hurricanes they are stationed in the office of the Conservation and Fisheries Department after losing the Department’s vehicle.
Mr Penn had also stated there is plan to transfer the life guards from the Ministry of Natural Resources, Labour and Immigration to the Virgin Islands Fire and Rescue Services.
7 Responses to “Only 2 lifeguards on duty in VI- SFC Report”
Get them a vehicle so they can get to the beaches!!!!!
Just wondering how long this has been going on.
The excuse about not having a vehicle is a joke. Do they not have a vehicle of their own?
I work with government and I use my own vehicle to get to and from work.
Not letting government off the hook, but if I were the lifeguards I would not be sitting in an office waiting for someone to provide me with a vehicle.
I guess it shows how enthusiastic these two lifeguards are about their job.