Calls for justice in bridge collapse incident
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – THE man who was injured seven years ago during the infamous bridge collapse incident, staged a peaceful protest yesterday (May 14), outside of Government Headquarters during the convening of the Federal Parliament.
A large group of individuals had gathered on the opposite side of the building among whom were Mortland Watterton, his wife and another female.
The placards which they carried read:
“COLLAPSE BRIDGE ONE MAN DIED WHILE THE OTHER IS INJURED 7 YEARS OF NO JUSTICE FROM 2008 – 2015”
“Break the Silence. COLLAPSE BRIDGE. 14th May 2008 – 2015. 7 years of INJUSTICE. DIED – Toney Allick. INJURED – Murtland Watterton. STOP THE HYPOCRACY NOW”
“Stop The Mental Abuse of my Husband. Enough is Enough. Release the Court Date. High class Wickedness”
Carol, Watterton’s wife, was berated and accosted by some members of the crowd and questioned her motives and asked why she decided to take this action at this particular time when the tragic event took place seven years prior.
In an interview with SKNVibes, she explained that that day marked the anniversary of the event and she wanted to remind those in authority of it, with the hope that something would be done regarding assistance and justice for her husband.
She said her family has experienced grave difficulty in making ends meet especially since her husband, who was the sole breadwinner, has been unable to work since the incident.
“I come here because I need justice for my husband. This is mental abuse because, do you know how long we are trying to get justice? Mr. Harris knows all about it. He is in there now and I think this should have been a priority because bringing a date like this to convene Parliament refreshes my husband’s memory; his coworker died right there on the bridge and he is suffering. This is overbearing. Seven years we go through abuse, we go through oppression, we go through the lights being taken off… I have had to be man and woman of my home…”
In 2008 when the bridge located in vicinity of the Robert L. Bradshaw International Airport was being constructed, a portion of it collapsed which resulted in the death of Vincentian Allick Toney, 64, and two Guyanese, Watterton and Ian ‘Shatta’ Warde, were injured.
Information which this media house received indicated that Warde had recovered but Watterton suffered a back injury which rendered him unable to work.
An investigation into the bridge collapse was launched shortly after the incident, and in 2011 the compiled report on the findings was made available to the media. It was however inconclusive and left many questions unanswered.
