-relatives
Officials of Pritipaul Singh Investment, the company whose trawler exploded on Saturday morning, have given assurances to the relatives of those injured that the men will be taken care of.

The captain of the vessel, Captain Lloyd 97, Cane Grove, Mahaica resident Delbert Williams, remains missing as search efforts to locate him yesterday were unsuccessful.

Nicola Fitzpatrick, wife of George Fitzpatrick, one of three crew members who have been hospitalized following the accident told this newspaper yesterday that she had spoken to officials of the company, and they have assured her that  the company will assist “in whatever way” where her husband’s welfare is concerned.

She said that the company did not disclose what form of assistance will be provided to her husband but she noted that the officials stated that this will be discussed by the company. She said she had been provided with contact information by the fish processing company in this regard and she noted that personnel from the company have been visiting her injured husband at the Burn Care Unit of the Georgetown Public Hospital to assess his recovery. The woman stated that her husband was feeling much better yesterday as he was able to sit up and talk with relatives.

Orlon Munroe’s relatives told Stabroek News that his employer has  spoken to  Munroe’s mother about her son’s sickness benefits and the company has also pledged to assist in the man’s recovery from the burns he sustained following the explosion. Munroe’s injuries were more severe, as his body suffered third degree burns while Fitzpatrick sustained second degree burns.

Another crew member, Leslie Adams is expected to be discharged from the hospital later this week, as he is said to be recovering “fairly well”, a relative noted yesterday.

Officials of the company remained mum when contacted by this newspaper yesterday but this newspaper understands that members of an investigation team, which was set up by agencies under the umbrella of the Ministry of Agriculture, have been working around the clock to determine the cause of Saturday morning’s explosion which, according to accounts provided by the survivors, occurred in the engine room of the vessel around 9.

Elvis Todd another crew member escaped without injuries as he was on board the deck of the vessel when the explosion occurred.

The incident occurred several miles off the Waini Coast in the North West District on Saturday morning on a voyage which was expected to last for several weeks. The surviving members of the crew were rescued by a nearby Venezuelan vessel and were later transferred to a vessel owned by their employers before eventually being transferred to the public hospital. Agriculture Minister Robert Persuad has since ordered a full investigation into the incident.