Up to yesterday, no charge had been filed against the captain of the boat in the December 18 Pomeroon River crash that claimed six lives despite a manslaughter recommendation from the Chambers of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
Last week, Stabroek News was reliably informed that the Chambers of the DPP had recommended to the police the charge of manslaughter against the boat captain Hytilall Ramadhin.
However, when this newspaper contacted Crime Chief Seelall Persaud yesterday it was stated that the file is currently with the Chambers of the DPP and had not yet been returned to the police.
When contact was made yesterday with the DPP’s Chambers it was again said that the file with the recommended manslaughter charge was sent to the police for the charge to be instituted.
A press statement from the Maritime Administration Department on December 29, 2012 stated that one or both of the captains failed to observe international regulations and it disclosed that it had advised the `G’ Division police to proceed with charges.
The normal procedure in the case of a river accident would be an investigation by MARAD before the case is turned over to the police. It was after this recommendation that the file was forwarded by the police to the DPP’s Chambers.
MARAD had also said that “There were a number of breaches which were found to be in violation of the Collision Regulations such as:
· Rule 5 – Failing to maintain a proper look out at all times.
· Rule 6 – Proceeding at a safe speed so as to take proper and effective action to avoid collision.
· Rule 14 – Failing to alter the vessel’s course to starboard
· Failing to render assistance to operator and passengers.
The captain is likely to also face charges in relation to these breaches.
Harrinarine Bhagwandin and his nephew Vincent Singh, 40, both of Abrams Creek; Velda Rodriguez, 50, and her son Shawn Rodriguez, 14, also of Abrams Creek; and Rajkumar Singh, 14, and his sister, Amerita Singh, 10, of Charity Housing Scheme, Essequibo Coast died as a result of injuries sustained in the collision.
