Full report on Bypass Project, death expected this week

By Ryan Haas
Reporter-SKNVibes.com

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts-EXACTLY five months to the day of the tragic bridge collapse at the West Basseterre Bypass Road Project that killed one man and critically injured two others, Dr. Hon. Earl Asim Martin, Minister with responsibility for Public Works promised a comprehensive report on the incident would be delivered this week.

Speaking at a press conference on Friday, November 14, Martin said that a “comprehensive report” on the West Basseterre Bypass Road tragedy had finally been completed and would be made available to the public. 

“Mr. Mandis Singh from Halcrow Group Ltd., which is one of the companies that designed the bridge along with our own engineers at Public Works, and the directors of Public Works have given us a comprehensive report on what actually transpired,” Martin said.

The minister added that upon Singh’s arrival in the Federation of St. Kitts-Nevis this week the report would be delivered to the public via another press conference.

Among the issues to be addressed in the report would be reasons for the collapse and compensation to the family of the deceased Vincentian, Allick Toney, and the two injured Guyanese natives, Mortland Watterton and Ian ‘Shatta’ Warde.

 “The work was insured and all of those liabilities, I would imagine, would fall on the insurance companies. I would imagine also that based on whatever is accrued to [them] at Social Security would also be offered,” Martin said, but added that he would have to check with the contractor, Win Aggregate Ltd., to see if any money had been paid to date as that would be their responsibility and not the government’s.  ~~Adz:Right~~

The report is also expected to state the progress to date toward the overall completion of the US $7.56 million project, which began in October of 2006 and was originally slated to be completed in August of this year.