Amputee fisherman regrets absence of adequate compensation

Apr 23, 2013 News

By Rehanna Ramsay

After having his right leg amputated because of a trawler mishap, former seaman, Dwayne Nelson is still recovering. He is grappling to adjust to the current realities of his life.
The unemployed father of two lamented that by no means has he received any acceptable monies from the company with which he was employed when he suffered his misfortune.
Nelson currently receives $20,000 per month from the fishing company, as part of a damages package, which he said is just not good enough.
Nelson, 23, lost his leg in a horrific freak accident last December while working as a deckhand on a Pritipaul Investment Limited trawler, ‘Maria Sue’ some 25 miles from the mouth of the Berbice River.
The fishermen were in the process of pulling in a catch when Nelson’s foot got caught in the winch which was being used to pull up the seine. His right foot from the shin down was severed.
“All I know that I de pulling up the net and I feel like the line hook my foot. By the time I look, I see me foot come off. I de shock so I didn’t even feel pain till seconds after I see de foot.”
“Like even though I survive, I never think that I would be dependent on people so young. It hard because I can hardly do things for myself,” the father of two lamented.
“Since the accident I never received no adequate compensation from de company. I wuk deh fuh more than two years. I use to work for at least $100,000 a month to support my family. I got two small children to look after, one is two and the other is a couple months baby … I de hoping that they woulda come with something, seeing me situation.” Nelson added.
He said that all the help he has been receiving is coming from persons other than his former employer.
“Is people lift me into the ambulance at the New Amsterdam Ferry Stelling, and is the bauxite shipping people that de wuking near de Berbice River and a boat with police and other people help get me off the trawler. Pritipaul never even promise to help me out with nothing.
“After I get in the accident and had to come down from New Amsterdam, is me fiancée had to pay a taxi fuh bring me down to Georgetown and Pritipaul Personnel say they would a pay me back but them ain’t even do that. I had to pay all de hospital expenses and till now I doing it.”
“Right now when I try fuh ketch transportation, cause minibus don’t really want stop fuh up a one foot man, I does stand pon the road fuh hours before I get a bus. I can’t get around properly and the company ain’t even assisting me.”
Apart from the emotional grief and financial constraints, the 23 year old, Norton Street, Bagotstown resident said that he still has to endure the physical discomfort.
“I does still get pain in the foot and every time I remember what happen and so, my foot does pain me so I still got fuh go to de hospital and so.”
Nelson said that it was while visiting the hospital that he met William France, a fellow amputee who encouraged and inspired him through difficult times.
“He really who help me to focus and encourage me to go through de rough times.”
Nelson plans to join France, an athlete, who participates in walk-a-thons locally and abroad.

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Amputee fisherman regrets absence of adequate compensation

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