Survivor’s employer still silent about compensation - relatives

Survivor’s employer still silent about compensation – relatives

Jul 12, 2010 News

Relatives of 19 year old trawler explosion survivor, Orlon Munroe are beginning to have doubts that he will be fully compensated by his employer.

The teen received burns to over 90 percent of his body, after his vessel, Captain Lloyd 97, which is registered to Prittipaul Singh, exploded almost three weeks ago.

Orlon Munroe in the hospital yesterday

Also injured in the freak accident were George Fitzpatrick, Keith Abrams and Elvis Todd. The body of the captain Delbert Williams was never recovered. Williams’s relatives now intend to keep a memorial service.

The teen’s mother, Cheryl Munroe, yesterday told this publication that officials from the seafood company are still tightlipped about the issue of compensation.

According to the woman, one official told her that they will not discuss compensation until the government concludes its investigation.

“So if the government never finishes their investigation…what would happen to my son…he is too young to go through this” said the visibly upset woman.

The woman said that the company is presently giving her a weekly allowance, which she says is insufficient.

“What they are giving us is not enough…we spend more than that to look after Orlon….I have to travel from Mahaica everyday”.

According to the woman, officials are telling her that the Captain was the only person insured by the company.

“They trying to tell me is the Captain alone insured ……and is the Captain that does employ the other sailors”.

The woman posited that her son had been working at the fishing company for three years, and it was very strange for officials to say that. She was adamant that her son should be fully compensated by the seafood company.

Meanwhile, when Kaieteur News visited the teen yesterday, he was in high spirits as a relative fed him.

The teen said that yesterday was one of the few days that he was not in agony. He said that although he is thankful that he is alive, he still questions why the accident happened.He said that he feels extremely lonely since his other two colleagues who were injured in the accident were discharged.

“It just me alone leave back now….I does feel real lonely,” the teen said.

Yesterday, Munroe only complained about having a difficult time urinating.

Kaieteur News was told that the vessel, Captain Lloyd 97, registered to Prittipaul Singh Investments at Providence, had left port Georgetown for a fishing trip to North West, Region One, Barima/Waini.

Munroe had told this newspaper that they attempted to start the engine but a wire started to spark and the next thing, there was fire “all over”.

“I feel fire all over me body and me and the Captain run out of the engine room. I jump overboard.”

Fitzpatrick said he was sleeping when he was awakened by the heat. About 25 per cent of his body was burnt.

He said that he was able to put the badly injured Captain in a tub used to store fish while he and Todd managed to grab on to the cover of the same tub.

Minister Robert Persaud had said that a full investigation has been launched to determine the cause of the fire and to ensure that the industry does not suffer.

When contacted yesterday the Minister said that the investigation was still ongoing and the findings would be made public.

He assured that his Ministry will be moving to ensure that safety standards on fishing vessels are maintained and they are seaworthy.

Efforts yesterday to contact a representative from the Prittipaul Investments proved futile. (Latoya Giles)