Operations at beaches along the North Coast are being hampered by the lack of lifeguards.
If you’re not a Carnival lover and are headed there over the next few days, do so with caution.
Karl Hernandez, patrol captain at the Maracas Bay Lifeguard Unit, said government has given no attention to ensuring the beaches were manned by lifeguards.
He said while the Ministry of National Security had taken additional efforts to boost the manpower resources on the streets for Carnival, they did nothing to ensure the nation’s beaches were similarly patrolled.
“I think the Government taking people life lightly, because they call out all police, all prison officers, yet they couldn’t do it with the lifeguards.”
Between Saturday and Sunday, Hernandez estimated that more than 20,000 people had visited north coast beaches.
Hernandez pointed out that the last intake of lifeguards was 13 years ago.
“We real under-staffed right now. Thankfully, we have the jet ski that can really help out with the manpower but otherwise, we under real pressure,” he added.
Hernandez said with thousands expected to descend on the North Coast on Wednesday, he was worried just how it would work out as there were only 11 lifeguards rostered.
At Tyrico Bay, he said there are no lifeguards assigned.
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