Plipdeco worker dies on port

Wayne La Mont, a terminal worker, was stacking containers at berth five of the Pt Lisas port when the container struck him at about 12.45 pm. Couva police report that Ivan Kissoon, the operator of the container handler did not see La Mont as he reversed the machine.

Other workers notified the ambulance services and authorities but La Mont died on the port.

Plipdeco confirmed the fatality and, in a statement, announced that an investigation, which would include a member of the Seamen and Waterfront Workers Trade Union, had begun.

Plipdeco employees described La Mont as a hard worker and a friendly person, adding that better safety conditions were needed at the port.

Neither president of the Seamen and Waterfront Workers Trade Union Michael Annisette nor chairman of the Pt Lisas branch Floyd James could be reached for comment yesterday.

La Mont’s death is the second industrial fatality at the Pt Lisas Industrial Estate, where the port is based, and which is managed by Plipdeco.

On March 24, Bobby Narine, fell 30 feet to his death while at work on the estate. Narine suffered a hairline fracture to his skull, two broken hands, fingers and a broken nose.

On the March 5, Stephan Reid, 22, was injured after being pinned to a wall by the spreader bar of a crane.

Reid sustained five broken ribs, a broken collarbone and his lung was damaged.

And in January, crane operator Peter Ramsaran was hospitalised for spinal, back, and neck injuries, after being injured when a mobile harbour crane malfunctioned.