Tulsiram Sukdeo, the man who suffered a fractured skull and lost sight in his left eye among other injuries during a boat collision in April, has filed a $10 million lawsuit against the US-based company which owns the vessel that was involved, alleging that its agents were negligent and reckless.
The US company, SSR Incorporated based in Florida never accepted responsibility for the accident, but had promised in writing through its lawyers to contact and compensate Sukdeo, without accepting liability, in an effort to continue with a local project for which it was contracted- the Guyana/Suriname Submarine Cable Project.
SSR’s vessel, the S.V. GEO was here to assist in conducting near shore surveys aimed at determining the best possible route for the landing of a new submarine fibre-optic cable system when it collided with the passenger boat Sukdeo was travelling in.
Sukdeo said in court documents filed in the High Court on Monday by his attorneys that the company failed to contact and or compensate him since the incident in April. In addition to the $10M, he is also claiming special damages in excess of $862,000 for continuing medical expenses and other relief.
In referring to the collision, Sukdeo stated in court papers that he was a passenger in the passenger ferry ‘Shadow’ which was travelling from Vreed-en-Hoop to Georgetown when the employees of the US company recklessly and negligently caused the marine vessel, the RV GEO, which was heading north, to collide with the passenger ferry causing him to suffer serious injuries.
Specifically, Sukdeo said that the company employees failed to observe and keep a proper lookout for other marine vessels traversing the Demerara River; that they failed to slow down and proceed cautiously at that juncture of the Demerara River regularly traversed by passenger ferries operating the Georgetown to Vreed-en-Hoop route and that they navigated in a reckless manner without due care and attention to other ferries and vessels.
He said that following the collision employees attached to the company did not stop at the scene to render any form of assistance to the passengers and ferry crew but simply sailed off in a northerly direction, but that the vessel was eventually detained by the Guyana Transport and Harbours Department.
According to him, it was based on the contents of the letter sent by the company’s attorneys that the Harbour Master subsequently released the vessel. Sukdeo said too that because of the letter he had deferred the institution of legal proceedings pending an amicable settlement of the matter.
The man detailed his injuries in the court documents stating that he was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital where he was examined by several doctors and treated for various injuries. Sukdeo said that he suffered a fractured skull; complete loss of sight in the left eye; serious facial disfigurement and soft tissue damage to the left side of his face and head; severe cuts, wounds and scars to his face; severe and recurrent bouts of headaches and dizziness and nervous shock and depression.
He stated that his medical treatment continues as he continues to make regular visits to the doctor and said also that he is scheduled to undergo another operation in the near future.
Further, he stated that he has been unable to work as a goldsmith and as a result has lost $60,000 in income and continuing for the past 10 weeks.
Sukdeo’s attorneys named in the court documents are Anil Nandlall, Euclin Gomes and Manoj Narayan.
