A Rusal worker injured in a collision last year is calling for compensation from the company, saying that the money he is currently receiving is not enough.
Otis Conway, now 38, was injured on June 30 last, after a pick-up collided with a bus transporting Rusal workers on a trail which runs through the Kwakwani mines. There were two fatalities in the accident.
A resident of Kwakwani, Conway was a passenger in the bus. He said he was seated behind the driver when the collision occurred. He sustained a broken jaw, broken left leg and a fractured hip. “The company said that they are taking care of the expenses at the hospital,” Conway told this newspaper.
After being hospitalised at a private hospital for one month, the company continued to cover Conway’s medical expenses but in March of this year, he received a letter from Rusal’s Personnel Manager stating that the company decided to halt its coverage of cost incurred by hospitalisation, transportation and weekly payment benefits because “your illness has been extended for a protracted time that exceeded the six months period allow for employees in your case to be off the job.”
Then in April, Rusal in another letter to Conway stated that the company will pay Conway $15,000 monthly until June 30 so as to allow time for an assessment of his state of health and fitness.
However, Conway, who receives the money in weekly attachments of $3,852, said it is not enough to cover his transportation cost and take care of his family. A father of three, Conway says it costs him $2,000 to travel from Kawakwani to Georgetown to meet the doctor on a monthly basis.
“You suppose to compensate more than that,” said Conway. He pointed out that it is affecting his family “a lot” and it is the support from relatives that is sustaining his family.
An operator with the bauxite company, Conway stated that his fortnightly pay was more than what he is being compensated. He said that his doctor told him that he will be incapacitated for eight more months. Worried about his family, Conway said he consulted Lincoln Lewis general secretary of the Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) who gave him the assurance that he would follow up the matter.
Police had said the accident occurred when minibus BKK 8120, driven by Mark Adams, and motor pickup, GLL 794, driven by Sherwin Sealey, collided along the Mines Road at Kwakwani.
As a result of the collision, Remington “Tuts” Wade, 40, and Terrence Budburg, 30, both of Kwakwani (Upper Berbice/Upper Demerara) died. In addition to Conway, 14 others were injured: Jason Sampson, 29; George Shakespeare, 45; Glendon Shakespeare, 40; Mark Adams, 37; Joel Merchant, 16; Cheston Jones, 21; Lambert Daniels; Wilbert Williams, 31; Lindon Burkoye, 40; Clive Lagoudou, 41; Andrew Courtman, 39; Harlo Andrian, 43; Sherwin Sealey and his 10-year-old son.
The injured were air-dashed to the city for immediate medical attention.
