Sailor crushed to death aboard MF Panorama

A Tobago-born sailor aboard the MF Panorama was crushed to death yesterday when part of the cable to the vehicle ramp in the cargo area snapped, pinning him to the floor. Uwaine Anthony, 35, who had been living at Valsayn north, but was originally from Moses Hill, Lambeau, Tobago, was killed on the spot. “I ain’t eat; I can’t eat,” Franklyn Marcelle, a co-worker and friend of the deceased, told Newsday on the scene. “The man ain’t get a chance to say ‘aah’... Instant death!” he declared.

The incident reportedly occurred around midday and further delayed the departure of the Panorama which had been scheduled to leave for Trinidad at 11 am. The Panorama eventually departed Scarborough around 3.30 pm. The inter-island ferry had docked in Tobago behind schedule and was in the process of being loaded when the freak accident occurred. Co-workers in the cargo area and other Port officials stood around in a daze lamenting the tragedy. Some passengers cancelled their trip and disembarked the Panorama after learning of the incident. According to reports, Anthony was working on the western side of the cargo area when the “connector” to the cable which holds up the ramp on which vehicles are loaded, snapped. He was crushed beneath the ramp, and several cars already on the ramp were damaged. Anthony who recently purchased a house in Valsayn, where he had been living for years, was the son of a former captain of the inter-island ferry.
  
A police party headed by Insp Cyril Broomes, head of the Scarborough CID, including Sgts Jeffrey George, Winston Adams, Detective Andy Cunningham and other officers visited the scene. Fire Services officials were also on the scene with a tender which washed down the area. Insp Broomes is continuing investigations. The Chairman of the Port Authority, Noel Garcia yesterday instructed that when the Panorama docks at Port-of-Spain, a total overhaul is to be done by insurers, Lloyds of London, and the Port engineers. Garcia apologised for any delays in the sailing of the vessel, but maintained that people’s lives had to be put first. It is reported that an internal inquiry into the incident is underway.