Two crew members of a Grenadian vessel were reportedly assaulted while another was hospitalized following an incident involving the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard (TTCG) on Wednesday.
According to a report by the Grenada Broadcasting Network (GBN), at around 4 a.m. the eight-member crew was stopped by the TTCG for a routine check.
However, the ship’s operator claimed to have been greeted with hostility by members of the Coast Guard.
He further alleged that one of the officers used obscene language and pointed his gun in their direction.
The operator said: “My crew member said you better be careful with the aiming of that gun. You had an incident where a child was accidentally shot and killed.”
They were then directed to the base, where the captain and a crew member were allegedly beaten.
The crew member was reportedly taken to Port of Spain General Hospital for medical attention and would require surgery.
Less than a month ago, a Venezuelan baby was killed when Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard officers fired on a boat carrying undocumented migrants.
Meanwhile, the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard has launched an investigation into the latest incident.
In a statement on Saturday, the TTCG said it was aware of reports circulating in the media regarding an incident involving a Grenadian vessel and a Coastguard interceptor.
He said the report alleged conduct by Coast Guard personnel that is inconsistent with the service-oriented ethic the Coast Guard expects of its members and has demonstrated over the years.
The TTCG said, “The Coast Guard takes all allegations of this nature very seriously as they affect the public perception of the Formation, which can lead to a breach of trust which is a key element to the success of its mission.”
He added: “As a result, the Coastguard launched an immediate investigation on the very morning of the incident with a view to determining the facts of what happened. This ongoing investigation will involve all relevant parties at the time of its completion.”
Additionally, the Coast Guard said every effort is being made to ensure the matter is resolved quickly.
