Yesterday, we told you about the fatal accident at the Port of Belize that caused one stevedore to lose his life and left another in the KHMH.
Today we spoke to Deon Ras Pitta who survived the fall into the hold of a cargo ship.
He explained just what happened and how faulty equipment contributed to the fatal mishap:
Jules Vasquez Reporting
Deon Ras Pitta was smiling and in good spirits when we visited him at the hospital today.
That is a long way from yesterday when he plummeted 30 feet into the cargo hold of a ship - and was injured by a spreader. Worst than all that, he had to watch his longtime co-worker die:
Deon "Ras" Pitta - Stevedore, Survived Accident
"It's sad. I feel grateful that 'Jah' had my back. I am very sad that I lost my brethren, and the only thing I can say is that the Father had my back. I could have been dead too."
This image from the internet sort of shows what we are talking about. Imagine the boat isn't in the picture - at the bottom forming the base is the flat rack, at the top is the spreader. This flat rack and spreader, empty were being hoisted into the MV Kapelln is a flat rack.
Ian Kamala Madrill was sitting on the flat rack itself, Pitta was above on the spreader as it was lowered into the cargo hold of the ship.
He said it was a mechanical problem when he and Ian Madrill known as Kamala
Deon "Ras" Pitta
"It hit the wall for the inside hatch, and when that happened, the lever for the spreader snapped straight. When it snapped, we let go, but Kamala was sitting on the flat rack itself. I was sitting on the spreader, and I had my hand held on the wire that holds up the spreader. He went down before me, but the shock of everything - I couldn't hold on, and I came behind him. But the angle of flat rack came, Kamala slid off the flat rack, and that sandwiched him between the walls of the ship. I came falling behind, and the spreader came and set on my pelvis. That's why I have this situation in my pelvis."
Jules Vasquez
"So it didn't slam it."
Deon "Ras" Pitta
"No, it didn't slam into me, but it sandwiched him. When they went to see Kamala, one of my co-worker shouted his name, and he signaled. Unfortunately, that was probably the final signal from my brethren."
Madrill was hoisted out of the ship on a palette - and Pitter brought here to the KHMH where he is now in the private ward recovering from an inflamed pelvis and a fractured hand.
For this veteran stevedore who's been doing the job for 23 years - the accident is a lesson.
Deon "Ras" Pitta
"Jules, the honest truth is that for a while now, we have been complaining about maintenance of the equipment at Port. Accidents are bound to happen; we can't prevent that. But the present situation is that the equipment is not really in the best condition that we are working with, and it's a risk whenever we go to the pier head to work, especially container work, and that's where we make money. So, we want to work container, but if machine and equipment in the yard are not malfunctioning, we lose many times. I think that the next gang that is supposed to go work tonight or tomorrow, a sense of fear will be there because it's the same equipment that we are going to meet there. So, a sense of fear will be there, and if the gang decides not to work, I support that because these problems are there for a while with the machinery at Port. That is the company's problem that it is making a lot of money and refuses to maintain their equipment. That's the problem."
And now - even though he's down this fighter for the stevedores and member of the negotiating team:
Deon "Ras" Pitta
"Every time we go around the table, we emphasize about safety for the equipment and insurance; we are adamant in our position, Jules. But it seems like this had to happen to make them see why."
And while he will fight even harder - he says that so far they have been straight with him
Deon "Ras" Pitta
"I have one thing to say: Mr. Tux Vasquez he is with us every step of the way. He is in tuned; he came to the hospital to look for me. He is concerned that he needs to see Mr. Ian's wife. He is with us all the way with this; he is right there. I have to give him that respect. Jules, to tell you the honest truth, the respect and the attention that they give me, I appreciate it, but it's the stevedores. It's not just Deon "Ras" Pitta. I would want them to pay the same attention to all stevedores they way that they have paid attention to Deon "Ras" Pitta, the stevedore, because honestly, if it was another stevedore, as we saw happen before, we don't see these attention here."
Speaking with the CEO of the Port, Arturo Vasquez this evening, he told us that he doesn't think that the accident was caused by faulty equipment. He adds that if the lock was not holding - and there are four such locks - the Stevedores are the ones who know that best - so they should not have been riding it.
He adds that this is the first such accident at the Port of Belize.
Vasquez met with the union today in what he called a productive session.
