Ten beaches in Tobago remain closed and there have been no further sightings of a bull shark which viciously attacked a British tourist on Friday.
Yesterday, TEMA director Allan Stewart said Turtle Beach (where the attack occurred), Grafton Beach, Mount Irvine Beach, Grange Bay, Rocky Point, Buccoo Beach, Swallows Beach, No Man’s Land, Store Bay and Pigeon Point will remain closed to the public.
The Tobago Emergency Management Agency official spoke about the latest developments after the shark attack following an emergency meeting held yesterday to discuss the authorities’ response to the incident, the crisis communication plan and beach surveillance.
The meeting included the Tobago disaster management committee, executives from the Tobago House of Assembly (THA), the Division of Tourism, Culture, Antiquities and Transportation, Tobago Tourism Agency Limited (TTAL), Tobago Regional Health Authority (TRHA), medical professionals and other experts.
Speaking to Guardian Media via telephone Stewart said, “The beaches remain closed. While we are working towards the reopening of the beaches, protocols need to be put in place and therefore by tomorrow (Monday) we are hoping to do a reassessment of those protocols to make sure that everything is set for the reopening,” he said.
“Based on the fact finding and what comes out of the surveillance that is now being pursued of beach patrol plans and things like that, those will determine whether or not it will be open and when it will be open,” he added.
According to Stewart, despite no further sightings of the bull shark or any other sharks in Tobago waters, experts have advised as to when beach activities could resume.
He said TEMA and other stakeholders are focusing on restoring confidence in marine interests.
“The objective is to identify whether there is still a shark that is lurking along the beaches that would avoid us from doing the reopening. If you do the surveillance and you recognise through your beach patrols and use of UAVs, you recognise that there is over two to three days, therefore you may want to give rise to reopening of beaches. We’re on the side of caution,” he said.
Meanwhile, 64-year-old British tourist Peter Smith remains in a stable condition.
Around 9.15 Friday morning, Smith - who was taking a last swim before leaving Tobago with his wife - was attacked by a bull shark.
His left hand was severed from the elbow down as well as his life thigh. He was also bitten in his stomach.
Medical officials at the Scarborough General Hospital performed life and limb-saving surgery on Smith.
Yesterday, THA Secretary for the Division of Health, Wellness and Social Protection Dr Faith B Yisrael said Smith remains in the Intensive Care Unit but is on the mend.
“Mr Smith continues to improve. He remains stable at the ICU of the SGH. The medical team continues to collaborate with his family to determine the best course of action going forward,” she said.