Cedric Hart, a father of seven who narrowly survived the 2003 accident, says he is suffering silently.
He told The Tribune yesterday that in addition to his own injuries, he is struggling with the burden of medical bills for his son; whose kidney is failing. Mr Hart sustained major spinal injuries, fell into a coma and spent two years in hospital following the accident.
“My spine was messed up by the crane crash and my son needs kidneys because of the incident,” Mr Hart explained.
“I can’t sit up for too long, so I just need to try and continue to see if I can get up. I have chronic pain 24 hours a day. The left side of my body is still immobile and this is the side where I got the blow.”
In a letter to The Tribune, a concerned person called on Attorney General Allyson Maynard-Gibson, “to release the money from the United Star that was (reportedly) paid out three months after the collision on August 2, 2003.
“Can the Central Bank please authorise the release of these funds? And further, when is Mrs Glenys Hanna-Martin going to pay the Sea Hauler victims?” the letter asked.
It said that Mrs Hanna-Martin, Minister of Transport and Aviation, promised last year that the payments would be in this year’s budget.
It was during the Emancipation weekend of 2003 that the Sea Hauler mail boat, overloaded with passengers on their way to the Cat Island Regatta, collided with the United Star freight vessel near Highbourn Cay, Exuma, and Wemyss Bight Eleuthera.
Four persons – Brunell Smith Ellis, Brenda Smith Leslie, Livingston Seymour and Lynden Riley died in the collision.
The victims say they believe other issues are taking precedence, and that government is leaving them to suffer.
Mr Hart explained that National Insurance is paying “a little something, so is Social Services,” but the assistance is insufficient.
“Right now we are not getting any kind of answers from the government about the case,” Mr Hart explained. “I went to other people to reach out to see how long it is going to be before we get some kind of assistance because it is not only me one is out here suffering from that accident.”
In a letter dated July 4, 2005 to the National Insurance Board, Dr Winston Phillips, consultant surgeon at the Department of Orthopaedics, wrote: “Mr Hart sustained injury to his lower back. “He continues to have lower pain in the back despite treatment with physiotherapy, muscle relaxation and analgesics (medication capable of relieving pain). He is still undergoing treatment and is unable to work for a period of one year.”
Mr Hart told The Tribune that he is not looking for hand-outs. He said since leaving the hospital he has sought employment, but has not yet been hired.
However, he explained that before the accident he had worked for six years as a security officer at the Mall at Marathon.
“My spine is out of place. I am still doing the therapy, but it is not (working) as fast as they wanted it to. But I am still trying to make life easier for my family,” Mr Hart said.
His children range in age from two months to 13 years. He blames the accident for his son’s kidney failure.
“My wife was on the vessel and witnessed the accident and went into labour after she saw me pinned down under the crane,” he explained.
The twin boys, Devon and Deshon, who are three yearsold, were born prematurely. Deshon, he said, is in need of a kidney.
“My mother has him going to the US right now to take blood samples to sign up for a kidney.”
The Tribune made numerous unsuccessful attempts to contact Minister of Transport and Aviation Glenys HannaMartin and Attorney General Allyson Maynard-Gibson.
By ROYANNE FORBES-DARVILLE, Tribune Staff Reporter
