But citizen say even more should be done for water safety On a day when contentious debate swirled around proposals such as agricultural subdivision moratoriums and Kaua`i Electric ownership, water safety was a swim through the shallow end of the
But citizen say even more should be done for water safety
On a day when contentious debate swirled around proposals such as agricultural subdivision moratoriums and Kaua`i Electric ownership, water safety was a swim through the shallow end of the Kaua`i County Council pool.
For one thing, there were only three speakers on the issue last Thursday.
For another, all three speakers supported an ordinance increasing the county’s 2001-02 fiscal-year budget by $44,062 so that three new lifeguards can be on the beaches sooner this summer.
Some of the additional money would also be used for radios and other water- safety equipment.
No decisions were made by the council, but the lifeguard appropriation is expected to pass without difficulty within the next month.
“We are strongly in support of this,” D.Q. Jackson of the Rotary Club of Po’ipu Beach told council members at their meeting last Thursday.
Kapa’a resident Glen Mickens also recommended passage of the appropriation.
“This is a step in the right direction, although it falls short,” Mickens said.
He mentioned the $500,000 Mayor Maryanne Kusaka requested last week to aid in the Lydgate Park expansion.
“Wouldn’t it be far more prudent to spend (more money) to save lives?” Mickens asked.
Kane Pa, a Red Cross-certified water safety instructor, also suggested other funding options.
“As you know, I have attempted to save a number of people” from drowning, Pa said. “Lifeguards are great, but we need to put money into education classes for tourists.”
Putting more lifeguards on duty won’t “stop the people from drowning,” Pa added.
At least two people have drowned in the ocean around Kaua’i this year. A third person is believed to have been drowned after disappearing on a snorkeling outing. There also have been at least two near-drownings.
Twenty-four people drowned in 2000 and 1999 combined.
Staff writer Dennis Wilken can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 252) and mailto:dwilken@pulitzer.net
