The report on the trawler explosion that resulted in the death of 19-year-old Orlon Munroe is still under review by the Works Minister although it was submitted to him nearly three months ago.
In September, the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) had submitted two reports on investigations done on the trawler explosion to Works Minister Robeson Benn.
“It is being reviewed and when I am finished you will know,” is the response that has been given by Benn whenever inquiries are made on what the report reveals about the explosion.
This newspaper has been inquiring ever since it was told the report was submitted to the minister.
Munroe, 19, of Virginia Village, passed away on September 5 after sustaining third degree burns three months prior in a trawler explosion at sea.
On the morning of June 19, Munroe sustained the burns after the trawler he was working on, the Captain Lloyd 97, exploded about 135 miles off the Waini Coast. The vessel belonged to Pritipaul Singh Investments.
Meanwhile, Munroe’s mother, Cheryl, said that she is still awaiting the findings of that report as well as word on compensation. Since she buried her son, the woman said that she has not heard any word from Pritipaul Singh Investments.
Efforts to contact the company’s spokesperson Ronald Deen have constantly been futile.
In the meantime, Chief of the Ministry of Labour’s Occupational Safety and Health Department, Yoganand Persaud who had intervened in the case said yesterday that a meeting is to be set up with the two parties in relation to coming to a settlement. Munroe’s mother had met with Persaud after he indicated an interest in the case a few weeks ago.
Four other persons had sustained injuries during the explosion while the captain Delbert Williams, of Cane Grove remains missing. An account given by one of the crew members stated that the 47-year-old man fell into a box which was pushed near the boat by another crewmember.
There has been no further word of him since the accident. Williams’ wife yesterday when contacted declined to say much except, “God is in charge”.
