Seafood company Pritipaul Singh Investments (PSI) may not have breached any existing laws or regulations as a result of the June 1 fire on board the Captain Lloyd 97 trawler, Agriculture Minister Robert says.
Speaking at a press briefing yesterday, Persaud stated that while he did not wish to make any pronouncements on a recent report which cited several deficiencies at the company’s operations as well as on the ill-fated vessel, “many of the failings were not in any of the existing laws or regulations.”
He noted that more in depth reviews of the report, which was compiled by a team from various agencies, may produce “something that is an indirect or direct contravention” to existing regulations.
Persaud stated that he met with the Guyana Association of Trawler Owners and Seafood Processors on Christmas Eve last week and according to him members of the association expressed concern about the concept of the report. He added, “in fact they took offence, but we agreed to have an inter-agency body to overlook implementation of recommendations.”
Persaud told Stabroek News earlier this month that the report would have been 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 then that the Public Works Minister Robeson Benn, who ordered the inquiry into the incident, may decide on what actions may be taken against the company.
Orlon Munroe, a 22-year old who was employed as a rigger on the vessel, succumbed to his injuries three months after being hospitalized following the June 19 fire while George Fitzpatrick, who is recovering from burns he sustained during the ordeal, remains affected by a slowly healing left hand. The captain of the vessel Delbert Williams remains missing and is presumed dead. 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 a few weeks ago that recommendations made by the team which investigated the explosion 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, GATOSP 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 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 areas 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.
The report also made some recommendations for the Maritime Administration, which it said should seek to develop a syllabus for Skippers of Fishing Vessels. It was also urged to develop on board operating procedures to regulate activities such as the transfer of fuel between compartments of tanks and clear guidelines to govern the handling of evidence to ensure its preservation for forensic purposes.
