The recently released report on the findings of an investigation into the Pritipaul Singh Investments (PSI) Captain Lloyd 97 trawler fire will be sent to the Attorney General’s Chambers to determine whether any criminal charges will be levelled against the seafood company.
Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud told Stabroek News yesterday that it has not yet been determined whether any criminal charges will be laid against the company. In the same vein he said that the issue will also be discussed by several agencies including the Fisheries Advisory Committee and “perhaps after they examine it they will decide whether any penalties will be brought against the company”.
Persaud noted that the Public Works Minister, who ordered the inquiry into the incident, may decide on what actions may be taken against the company.
Relatives of Orlon Munroe, a 22-year old who was employed as a rigger on the vessel and who succumbed to his injuries three months after being hospitalized following the June 19 incident told Stabroek News that they will be approaching the company within the next few days to discuss compensation.
Relatives of George Fitzpatrick, who is recovering from burns he sustained during the ordeal, are also hoping that the man may receive a form of compensation from PSI.
The captain of the vessel Delbert Williams remains missing and is presumed dead. His wife offered no comment when contacted by this newspaper yesterday. Two other crewmen, Keith Adams and Elvis Todd escaped the inferno with minor injuries.
The Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) stated in a release after the report was made public last week that recommendations made by the team which investigated the June 19th explosion on board the Captain Lloyd 97 fishing vessel will be implemented to ensure that they are adhered to by all fishing vessels, especially trawlers.
The Fisheries Department of the MoA stated that continued licensing of trawlers will be linked to the recommendations and the most stringent examination of vessels and related requirements will be done to ensure that such irregularities and deficiencies are rectified before licences are issued.
According to the release, the Guyana Association of Trawler Owners and Seafood Processors (GATOS) was implored to take the necessary measures to ensure that all its members comply with the rules and regulations, which would see that all Occupational Safety and Health Systems are in place and that crew members of vessels are able to work in a safe environment. The report, which was commissioned by Transport Minister Robeson Benn, stated that several safety regulations were breached.
The investigation which included inspections of the company’s facilities at McDoom and Providence on the East Bank of Demerara as well as the trawler in question found among other deficiencies, lax safety measures and key managers with little or no “competence” in the area they oversee.
It was noted that the emphasis in the company is to maximize production, which is expected and understandable, but the team stated that the latter was not to be achieved at the expense of the health and safety of employees and contractors.
To this end, it was recommended that PSI consider the employment of a qualified mariner among the shore staff, or the services of a Marine Consultant to periodically check that all things in relation to the vessels are in compliance with regulations.
The team also recommended that PSI ensure all emergency and safety equipment on shore and aboard ship are acquired and maintained in a serviceable state and emergency drills are to be carried out periodically ashore and on board the vessel.
Other recommendations made were that the company contracts qualified Captains and that these captains employ experienced crew members or at least persons who have attended the Basic Safety Training Course while it was noted that the flow of information between and among management staff needs to be improved.
The report also made some recommendations for the Maritime Administration. It said that MARAD should seek to develop a syllabus for Skippers of Fishing Vessels and the unit was urged to develop on board operating procedures to regulate activities such as the transfer of fuel between compartments of tanks and that there must be clear guidelines to govern the handling of evidence to ensure its preservation for forensic purposes.
