From Caribbean360

KINGSTON, Jamaica, Wednesday January 29, 2014, CMC – Police are searching for those responsible for the death of an American national, Tomas Torres Castillo, who died after being hit by a jet ski on Tuesday.

Police in the tourist resort town of Negril, west of here, said Castillo, from Las Vegas, Nevada, was hit by the jet ski, which did not stop.

The American, who was vacationing with his wife, was rushed to hospital where he was pronounced dead.

In recent months there have been several complaints about jet skis being operated in areas reserved for swimming.

Last October, Tourism Minister Wykeham McNeill told Parliament that there would be a six-month suspension on the importation of all jet skis for commercial use.

He also said that the Ministry of Tourism had held talks with the marine police and the Jamaica Defence Force Coastguard about actions to be taken against illegal jet ski operators.

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Related story:

Jamaican hoteliers call for jet ski ban

From Caribbean360

PHOTO: JHTA President, Evelyn Smith, believes the ban should be implemented until a solution is found. (Credit: hospitalityjamaica.com)

KINGSTON, Jamaica, Thursday January 30, 2014, CMC – The Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA), has called for a complete ban on jet skis in certain resort areas following the death of a tourist on Tuesday.

The police report that Thomas Torres Castillo, 53, of Las Vegas in the United States was struck by a jet ski as he was swimming at the Travellers Beach Hotel in the tourist resort town of Negril. Thomas died shortly after the incident.

JHTA President, Evelyn Smith, believes the ban should be implemented until a solution is found.

“The sentiment of the members is that everything needs to come off the waters until we are satisfied that we can enforce the whole situation , then one can look at determining specific areas. It cannot be where people are swimming, it has to be miles away , where there is no danger to human life,” she said.

In the aftermath of Tuesday’s accident, stakeholders in Negril have also renewed a call for the establishment of a hospital to readily handle emergency matters.

“In a resort town where we have people coming from all over the world, we need emergency services,” said Elaine Bradley, a retired intensive-care nurse. “We can save a life in the first few minutes after an accident if you have first responders who are trained or qualified.”

Meanwhile, Assistant Superintendent of  the Marine Police, Adrian Hamilton has outlined a plan of  action to be undertaken by the police, and given recommendations he believes will alleviate the problem.

“We plan to continue our operations, it is an issue for us that has never died ,it’s at the forefront of our plans. I think that there are some other measures that must be considered such as  the total banning of the jet skis, we should also look at a new licensing regime.”

The police have since reported that a suspect has been held in connection with the jet ski crash .

According to Hamilton, the suspect was recently taken to court for illegally operating a water craft machine.

“On January 9, he was charged for not having a license and for not having an insurance certificate and he was also fined several thousand dollars”

In recent months there have been several complaints about jet skis being operated in areas reserved for swimming.

Last August, Tonoya Hyman, 6, was killed when a runaway jet ski, which was being driven by a tourist, got out of control and mowed her down. Her four-year-old sister was also injured.

That incident prompted the Ministry of Tourism to institute a six-month ban on the importation of jet skis last October.

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