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I did not lie

Apr 09, 2014 Letters

Dear Editor,
I respond to a letter published in your newspaper’s letter column on Monday April 7, “Mr. Hugh Brian “Magic” October is a liar,” by  Samantha Bryan -Boat Cruise fan; a direct response to an article in your Sunday March 30 paper; “Hero seaman recalls risky boat cruise” in which I was featured.
Indeed the year stated in the article is incorrect as I told the interviewer that the boat ride incident would have occurred between 2008 and 2011, but was inadvertently specified as 2009. Against that, the account of what took place on that Parika to Supenaam boat cruise is not incorrect.
Firstly, I apologise to the captain who would have manned the cruise of that specific year. Honestly, I have never been to Bartica on a cruise and then again, what will it profit me to fabricate such a lie?
The fact about it is that I am not trying to put a damper on boat cruise, and the fun of its fans at large, but for your information I have never been on a cruise ship much less cooked on one.
I attended college at Liverpool, England at the age of 21, after which I became a cook with license number 52055. Ms Bryan, you have no knowledge of whether I am a holder of a steering license. My first vessel was the Baron Belhaven which had a Scottish management who made it compulsory for each personnel onboard; from mess men right up, to have same, which I received from Captain Welsh.
Let me state categorically, safety measures on these cruise have to be seriously reviewed; for example I have never seen life jackets in place on the lower deck where the party is taking place. I have never noticed at any time going on a cruise and the Captain, neither the crew demonstrating how to use a life jacket, in fact the deejay is usually the one balancing the boat. I am saying without apology that the maritime system of these party vessels is very poor.
It is time meaningful measures are put in place because this could be disasters waiting to happen. I will add also that this letter has not been the first to discredit what I said as I received a personal visit from one of the boat cruise organizers whose concern was that I was messing with his livelihood.
Nonetheless I would take this as constructive criticism from the passion of regular boat cruise attendees and suspect that the authorities would take the necessary step to ensure the party is enjoyed in the safest possible manner.
We should take a page out of the Barbados book where they have the Jolly Rogers for such entertainment as well as other Caribbean countries.
Hugh ‘Magic’ October

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