(Trinidad Guardian) The Institute of Marine Affairs (IMA) said it is considering placing signs at several beaches along the North-Western Peninsula of Trinidad after it found high levels of bacteria present in the water, which it said, could increase the probability of contracting infections and other ailments.
The IMA has now advised that beachgoers avoid bathing at Welcome Bay throughout the year, and at William’s Bay and Chagville Beach during and after rainfall.
Speaking at the sixth community research symposium titled The Sea and Me: Livelihood and Learning, on Wednesday, microbiologist with the IMA Sheldon Ramoutar explained that the bacteria were introduced into the waters due to sewerage. He explained that the presence of these bacteria in the water did not guarantee that an individual exposed to it would get sick, however, he said it did increase the probability of contracting an illness.
Ramoutar explained that “we could have respiratory tract infections down to the ears, eyes, nasal cavity, skin. You can get gastro, even diarrhoea, they (symptoms) could even be mistaken for food poisoning.”
He explained that young children were especially at risk of getting ill when bathing in these waters. “I know most of the older folks say I bathe in this place so long and I never get sick. Well, sometimes they might have gotten sick when they were young but now they can withstand it,” he said.
Guardian Media visited William’s Bay yesterday to speak to beachgoers about the IMA’s findings. They all were not surprised about the results due to the waters often being visibly dirty. But they agreed that the public needed to be made aware of the risks of bathing at these beaches.
According to the IMA, those who bathe in the waters with open wounds are also at risk of contracting an infection in addition to those who are immuno-compromised.
The IMA said it will be engaging in a public awareness and education programme.
But contracting an ailment can often be as simple as ingesting some of the water while bathing.
Guardian Media tried to contact the Chaguaramas Development Agency (CDA) chairman Narine Gupte Lutchmedial but all callls went unanswered.
The IMA said it will be engaging in a public awareness and education programme.