Charges recommends in Pomeroon boat tragedy

Dec 30, 2012 News

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Investigators from the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) have recommended criminal charges in connection with the recent Pomeroon boat collision that claimed six lives.
A release issued yesterday by the Ministry of Public Works stated that a preliminary investigation into the tragedy found failure to render assistance to the victims as one of several breaches of maritime regulations that occurred during and after the accident.
“By way of letter dated December 20, 2012, “MARAD has advised the Commander ‘G’ Division to commence instituting certain charges in keeping with the requisite regulations relative to this incident,” the release added.
The MARAD investigation revealed that the collision occurred after “one or both captains” failed to observe the international regulation for preventing collision at sea and the Guyana Shipping Act of 1998 Sect 225 (1).
The probe also found that a number of breaches had occurred in the Collision Regulations. They included failing to maintain a proper look out at all times; failing to proceed at a safe speed so as to take proper and effective action to avoid collision; failing to alter the vessel’s course to starboard and failing to render assistance to operator and passengers.
The release did not specify whether the captain of the Region Two vessel was the individual who had failed to render assistance to the captain of the smaller vessel and his passengers.
A police official told Kaieteur News yesterday that a decision on criminal charges could be made by tomorrow.
Both the captain of the Region Two vessel and Regional Chairman Parmanand Persaud refuted allegations that the vessel left the scene without attempting to rescue the victims.
The Ministry of Public Works release stated that a preliminary investigation was conducted immediately “into this most unfortunate accident and the facts are that on the day of the accident, both vessels were travelling close to the left bank of the river on a reciprocal or nearly reciprocal course when they collided.”
“The collision was caused by one or both Captains of the vessels having failed to observe the international regulation for preventing collision at sea and the Guyana shipping act of 1998 Sect 225 (1).
”Secondly, our investigation revealed that at the time of the collision it was raining but that did not obscure the Captains’ visibility.”
According to the release, prior to this incident, officials from the Maritime Administration Department paid visits and held awareness seminars with operators and passengers in Pomeroon, conducted boat inspections and issued licences to operators.
The Administration also distributed life jackets to some residents in Charity and Moruca areas.
“Periodic visits have been made by representatives from MARAD who are currently seeking to upgrade those vessels which transport passengers in that Region and to hold training sessions for boat operators.
“Although MARAD officials encountered some resistance from residents residing in the Pomeroon areas, we remain committed to our responsibility of ensuring safe operational practices as we strive to minimize maritime accidents on our waterways.”
Finally, there is an ongoing effort to make boat operators more aware of safety requirements and to improve on the quality of their services to the travelling public.”
The Region Two vessel and a smaller boat carrying the captain and six passengers collided in the Pomeroon during a downpour.
Boat captain Harrynarine Bhagwandeen and passengers Velda Rodrigues, 50; Shawn Anthony, 14; Rajkumar Singh, 14 and his sister Amerieta Singh, 10; and Vincent Singh, 42 were all killed. Little Eli Orlando of Adams Creek was the lone survivor.
Relatives of the victims have accused the captain of the vessel owned by the Region Two Administration of failing to render aid to the victims.
But the captain and Mr. Parmanand Persaud told Kaieteur News that the boat operator discharged his passengers and tried to help the victims. However, they claimed that by then, two other vessels had gone to the rescue.
The captain also claimed that Bhagwandeen swerved into his path and should have been travelling on the other side of the river.
A passenger from the Region Two vessel had told Kaieteur News that she heard Regional Chairman, Parmanand Persaud, shout: “Captain look out, there’s a boat coming!” seconds before the two boats collided.
The passenger said that the captain swerved and Bhagwandeen’s boat struck the side of the vessel she was in.
The woman said she believes that she and the other passengers would also have perished had the boats collided head-on.
She said that the Region Two vessel was “moving fast” and the boat heading towards them also appeared to be speeding.
Post mortem examinations performed on Rodrigues and her son revealed that she sustained multiple injuries while her son’s spine was broken. All of the other victims, like Rodrigues, suffered multiple injuries.

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