By Sue-Ann Wayow
A NINE-MONTH-OLD baby boy, who was aboard a boat with migrants, was killed just after midnight on Saturday, when he was shot during an incident involving the vessel and the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard (TTCG).
His mother who was amongst the migrants captured by the TTCG was also shot.
The TTCG in a statement on Sunday gave its account of what transpired resulting in the tragic death.
The Coast Guard also offered condolences to other family members and wished the surviving mother, a speedy recovery.
According to the TTCG, patrols were being conducted along the southern coast when the TTS Scarborough detected a vessel that had crossed the border from Venezuela.
The Coast Guard said it pursued the boat which attempted to evade the TTS Scarborough whose ship’s boat was launched to aid in the interception.
The TTS Scarborough carries two high-speed 7.3-metre rigid-hull inflatable boats.
The TTCG stated, “All available methods were used including the use of the loud hailer, ship’s horn, searchlight and flares, to try to get the suspect vessel to stop, however, the vessel continued to attempt to evade TTS Scarborough. In keeping with standard protocols, warning shots ahead of the vessel were next employed.”
The warning shots were ignored.
“At this time, the ship’s boat from TTS Scarborough attempted to intercept the vessel, however, the vessel continued with aggressive manoeuvres, first coming into contact with the ship’s boat and then making attempts to ram it,” the TTCG continued.
The TTCG added that it was very familiar with the catastrophic results that can occur when ramming is used as an evasive technique since twice before in the recent past Coast Guard interceptors have been rammed by suspect vessels resulting in total loss of the interceptor in one incident and major damage to the hull and interior of the other interceptor in the second incident.
“In both incidents, the lives of the interceptor crews were put at risk since they narrowly escaped major injury and death. On this current occasion, the ramming effort by the suspect vessel, which was larger than the ship’s boat, caused its crew to fear for their lives and in self-defence, they fired at the engines of the suspect vessel in an attempt to bring it to a stop,” the TTCG stated.
The Coast Guard said the migrant boat eventually stopped and only then it was discovered that there were illegal migrants on board who had remained hidden and were therefore not seen before.
“Further checks discovered one adult female illegal migrant who was holding an infant and who indicated that she was bleeding”.
The migrant boat was brought alongside the TTS Scarborough and the injured mother was subsequently stabilised and was transferred to a local health facility.
The Coast Guard said: “Regrettably, the infant was found to be unresponsive. The remaining persons on board the vessel will be processed in accordance with immigration and health protocols. The Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard extends sincerest condolences to the family and loved ones of the infant and takes the opportunity to wish the injured female a speedy recovery.”
