Bridge collapse is not a political issue, says Minister Martin
Staff Reporter-SKNVibes.com
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| Dr. Earl Asim Martin, Minister responsible for Public Works |
BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS- MINISTER responsible for Public Works, Dr. Earl Asim Martin, gave a brief speech at the Cabinet meeting held earlier today (May 15th) admonishing those individuals who have used the tragic collapse of a West Basseterre Bypass bridge “as a political vehicle to attack the government”.
“Some individuals want to make this a political issue, but it is of utmost importance that we have respect for those who were injured and especially for the man who lost his life in this tragic accident. It is important that we have respect for their families,” said the Minister at the session.
Though Martin did not specify any individual by name, rumors of everything from a lack of proper planning to dangerous cost-cutting strategies being the causative factor behind the collapse began to circulate almost immediately after the disaster.
“There are those who are trying to use this accident as an attack on the West Basseterre Bypass Project. They are trying to say that it is a pointless project but we see it as a very important development in the future of St. Kitts,” Martin went on to say.
The Minister also used his time to again extend condolences to the families of those involved. “I want to extend my sympathies, and
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Collapsed bridge at West Basseterre BypassProject
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those of my Ministry, to the family of the one lost and our concerns about those two persons who are presently hospitalized.”
St. Vincent and the Grenadines native, Alec Tony was pronounced dead at the scene of the May 14th Bypass bridge collapse while Mortland Watterton and Ian ‘Shatta’ Warde, both of Guyana were injured in the accident and are currently being cared for at the Joseph N. France General Hospital.
Mark Moses, a Supervisor of WIN Aggregate, explained to SKNVibes.com that while the structure was collapsing, five employees hung onto the steel frames of the bridge and were assisted to safety, but Tony and the other injured men fell approximately 25 feet to the ground.
~~Adz:Left~~ “The structure was collapsing from the centre and the momentum drew them forward,” said Moses. “Being closer to the edge, Tony first fell and was covered by the cement mixture while the other two were trapped.”
Minister Martin, while at the scene of the accident Wednesday, stated to the press that a comprehensive report on the incident was currently being compiled and written for the Ministry of Public Works by the various development companies, contractors and engineers who were directly responsible for the bridge’s construction.
