BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – NEWS of the death of a loved one is often difficult to digest, especially if it is unexpected and according to staff members of Royal Utilities, a void has been left in their hearts by the unfortunate passing of their colleague Royston Collins.
This morning (Dec. 8), Collins was found lying on the side of the St. Peter’s main road in the vicinity of Carifesta Village and was taken to the Joseph N. France General Hospital where he subsequently died.
General Manager of Royal Utilities Gerry Moise told SKNVibes that Collins was hired by the company about four years ago on a temporary basis to dig holes and his immediate supervisor, Calvin Tross recognised his work ethic and personality, and the decision was taken to make him a permanent employee.
“He started off here as a day labourer, a temporary worker digging some holes for us. That was maybe four years ago. But he is a naturally happy guy and a very hard worker. So he would really enjoy himself and he would get all the work done and he would life up the spirits of all the guys he was working with, because he was a naturally a happy guy. He was a good, good man.
“So when that job was done, his supervisor – Calvin Tross - said ‘we should keep him, he’s good’. So we talked about it and we hired him and then he has been working for Calvin ever since.”
Tross, who manages the Desalination Plant for the Marriott, echoed similar sentiments, adding that the staff is a bit downtrodden because of the loss of their colleague, whom they refer to as a loved one.
“He was a very, very good worker, very nice person, kind-hearted and everything. He was always lively, never a dull guy, high spirited. He would be really, really missed. All of us are down right now because he was one who liked life and was lively. I have never seen him in a dull mood in the past three years I have worked with him. It is just sad to hear what happened this morning.
“…It is not good at all. Anybody that knows him knows that he was a very good worker and was very nice; someone good to have as a friend and to work with. We had no problem with him at all. If you gave him something to do, he was never reluctant or anything, he always jumped on it 100 percent. So because of those qualities he had, he would be really missed.”
Both men remembered the hiking excursions which the employees would take in which Collins was always a participant.
Moise said Collins was an impressive worker and whenever employee appraisals were done “he always excelled”.
Just two weeks ago, evaluations were done for the employees of Royal Utilities and, according to Moise, Collins “was graded as excellent and received a pay raise”.
To add to that, the deceased attended an awards ceremony and dinner last evening where he received an award and accompanying cash bonus for being named Royal Utilities’ 2015 Employee of the Year. Just hours after, sadly, his life was taken from him.
“Devastated” is one of the words used by Moise to describe the state in which Collins’s death has left him and his team, noting that filling his shoes would prove to be a difficult task.
“He was loved by everybody. He did not have an enemy in the world as far as I can tell.”
Moise said Royal Utilities would be assisting Collins’ family with the funeral arrangements.
