Tell me, how many more must die?

EDITOR: We are surrounded by water. We make a living from it. Many are sailors, some are fishermen, some farm sea moss, but most use the sea for recreation. Why then is swimming not part of our required curriculum in all our schools? Some skills are essential for our survival and are important enough to be compulsorily taught in schools.

We cannot just assume that we would learn naturally. We were conceived in water and developed for nine months in a watery environment. We should therefore be born swimmers. Apparently somewhere we lost our ability to swim and must be taught again how to do it. Over the years many drownings occurred in our rivers and seas. Some of them might have been due to the lack of swimming ability.

On land we require seat belts for cars, license, and insurance. Why then are there not similar requirements for small boats plying our waters? The cost of a small boat with engine is comparable to that of a car. Car accidents resulting in loss of life attract investigations, and possibly inquests. Loss of life at sea do not seem to attract any attention. I myself lost two brothers at sea. Lyndon in 1979 and Denzile in 1991. There was apparently no official investigation, no inquest, not even a memorial service.

I heard that neighbouring Carriacou has specific requirements for small boats. Here however, anyone apparently can put any small craft on the water and put ourselves and others in danger. Promotion and Education can help if our schools are involved and required to teach the principles specifically. Voluntary compliance while useful, is not sufficient for our protection.

Aircrafts missing in our waters should have been equipped with a black box to enable us to locate them. Similarly, all boats plying our waters should have a gadget that should enable us to find them when they are apparently lost. All other safety measures should be legislated.

I just learned that Dennis Gellizeau, and possibly two other persons are missing at sea these past two weeks. In this digital age, all crafts leaving our shores should have some obligation to report to someone their time of departure and expected time of arrival. In this way if they are missing, the chances of being found can be enhanced.

Anthony Stewart, PhD