Dear Editor,
ON Thursday, June 30, 2016, while in the water taxi going from New Amsterdam to Rosignol, I observed that of the 33 passengers in the little vessel, I was the only one wearing a lifejacket properly; the others had theirs just thrown over their heads and shoulders, but not buckled around their chests.In the event of a mishap, this vital piece of equipment, because it is being loosely-worn, would simply float off the wearer’s shoulders, leaving the wearer to the elements and grasping for me, the pilot and the bow-man, the only ones who were wearing the flotation devices properly, and pulling us all down.

The Transport and Harbours Department should put up notices and diagrams, at both stellings and on the craft, showing how to don a lifejacket correctly, and the dangers of not doing so. The pilot and bow-man should also insist that everyone be properly attired in the lifejacket before the vessel departs. Lives are at risk.

Yours faithfully,
M. XIU QUAN BALGOBIND-HACKETT