Boat captain operated with expired licence, inquiry hears

The captain of Cazorla Jr admitted before the Commission of Inquiry into the fatal Anse Cochon boat collision that he operated the vessel despite knowing that his boatmaster’s licence had expired.

Tyson Hippolyte gave evidence on Tuesday, the first day of public hearings into the July 18 collision, which claimed four lives and left several people injured.

Hippolyte told the Commission that he had left Soufrière at about 3 p.m. on the day of the incident for Gros Islet, before departing for the return journey sometime after 10 p.m.

He testified that he had a licence, but before Commission Chairman retired Justice Mario Michel could finish asking him about the validity of it, he interjected.

“Boss man…I don’t know when last I look into that,” he said.

The Chairman continued: “Was it a licence that expired on the 18th of July, 2015?”

“I don’t know,” he replied. Hippolyte was then shown a copy of the expired boat licence.

He said he had not been paying attention to it because he was not operating other boats. Hippolyte later said he may have driven Cazorla Jr about three to four times prior.

He also admitted that he had drank three of four beers before leaving Gros Islet for Soufrière.

Asked why he felt comfortable operating the vessel given the sea conditions and circumstances that night, he responded in Kwéyòl, “based on experience”.

The article Boat captain operated with expired licence, inquiry hears is from St. Lucia Times .