Poor Pakaloo...seems like the Po-lice needs to firm up their investigation here.
Berbice NGO up in arms over construction worker’s death
JUSTICE for the Unjust, a newly-minted Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) in Berbice, is calling for a probe into the mysterious death, back in March, of an employee of civil engineering firm Nauth and Sons.The deceased, 23-year-old Timothy Simon was reportedly found afloat at his worksite at Yakasari, Black Bush Polder, where the company was building and resurfacing the roadways.
‘Justice for the Unjust,’ which has been keeping Berbice on its toes since its formation, has taken up the cause and mounted a protest outside the company’s office at Edinburgh Village, East Bank Berbice.
Besides calling for an investigation into Simon’s death, the group is seeking the intervention of the Ministry of Social Protection, as it has been revealed that although the youngster was in the firm’s employ for six years, the local office of the labour department has no record of this, much less the accident.
And according to Group Vice-Chairman Ishmael King, neither does the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) have any record saying that Simon had been a contributor, although he was employed by the company.
King has been saying time and again that the relevant authorities need to look into the prevailing issue of private companies not paying NIS contributions for their employees, even though they’re deducting monies from their incomes.
‘’We need a new investigation; even the police need to investigate whether there was any criminal intent. This incident has resulted in a woman losing her son, who was one of the breadwinners of the home,†King said, adding:
“He was on duty when he lost his life; he was in his prime. A lot of productive years were ahead of him, and yet, the family was never compensated. Don’t just raise the government ministers’ salaries but look after the issues of the people of this country.â€
Meanwhile, Debbie Simon the lad’s mother, recalled that on the day in question, March 23, she had just come home from work at the sugar estate where she is employed as a weeder, when she saw two of Nauth’s employees approaching.
And from the way they were acting, she knew something was amiss. “I asked if anything happen to my son. ‘Did you kill him? I asked.’ They said he was doing a maintenance work. Then they said it was during his lunch break; that he was sleeping when he jump up and say, ‘Y’all betting? I gon show y’all that I could swim across.’â€
The bereaved woman recalled asking what her son was wearing when he went for a swim, and was told he had on a beach pants.
“They claimed that he went to test the water before taking the plunge,†she said. They apparently forgot all about him, until sometime later, when they went in search of him and found his lifeless body. At least, that’s what they told her.
“On getting the message,†Simon’s mom said. “I went to the Number 51 Village; and I observed that my son’s neck was broken, because it was dangling.†The post- mortem, however, revealed that he died by drowning.
To make matters worse, on the day of the post- mortem, she said both the pathologist and the police asked her reputed husband to leave the mortuary. “He did not get to witness the post- mortem examination,†she said.
But what was even more heartbreaking was that the very night of the post- mortem, those of her son’s workmates who were held for questioning were all sent away; they did not remain in police for the mandatory 72 hours.
To this day, she said, she has not seen hair nor hide of the elusive Mr Nauth. “I have never seen Mr. Nauth; I do not know what he looks like,†Simon’s mother said.
All she knows is that one Jerry, reputedly a supervisor, came to her house one day and said that the company was interested in standing the funeral expenses.
But there was a catch. They reportedly told the clerk at Persaud’s Funeral Home where her son’s body was, not to allow the cost to exceed $100,000. As it turned out the company paid only $30,000.
According to Simon’s mother, her son was the company’s longest-serving employee. “He would work every day; even on his day-off,†she said. “They would come and call him, and he would go; and he would go willingly. I have never seen a sympathy card from this company to our family.â€
Meanwhile, Region 6 Labour Officer Mr Ronald Bissondial, has confirmed that no report of any industrial accident was ever made. Pressed further, however, he said that seeing that the incident occurred more than a year ago, there was nothing the department could do about it now.
Timothy Simon, called ‘Pakaloo,’ lived at Adelphi Village, East Canje, Berbice, and was the eldest of five children.
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