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Nadisha Hunter and Daraine Luton, Gleaner Writers
The Ministry of Labour has retained the services of a private counsel in Canada to settle legal claims on behalf of the two Jamaican farm workers who died there last week.
Paul Roach and Ralston White died from environmental suffocation while attempting to fix a malfunctioning tank on an apple farm on which they worked. Their bodies are to be returned this week.
"<span style="color: #CC0000">The report is that the pump in one tank was malfunctioning and one of the workers decided to go into the tank and to fix it. By the time he entered the tank, he inhaled the gas that was being generated and became unconscious. The other worker went in to assist him and he also got suffocated," explained permanent secretary in the labour ministry, Alwin Hayles.</span>
"It was an accident," Hayles said while informing family members how to access benefits from the men's estates yesterday. He said the incident which led to their demise would be taken into account by the lawyer and would determine the final settlement.
Members of the bereaved families had met with officials at the labour ministry, including Minister Pearnel Charles and his junior minister, Andrew Gallimore. They were told that they would benefit from money under two insurance schemes. The benefit includes providing assistance for the children that have been left behind until they reach the age of 18.
Lorna White-Peart, White's sister, told The Gleaner that the family has been stung by the news of his untimely death.
"The way in which he died, the family is taking it real hard. We prefer if he was around sick and we have to care for him. He was the sole provider for his family, he was very supportive, jovial and always wanted us to be happy," she said of the father of two.
During yesterday's meeting, White-Peart expressed an interest in travelling to Canada to view the scene where her brother died.
Grappling with death
Meanwhile, Paula Roach, Paul's widow, told The Gleaner that the family is grappling to face reality with her husband's death.
"I still can't believe he died; he was so loving and caring," she said.
Paul left for the overseas job on August 10, which is four months later than his usual departure time, and ended up spending only a month of his usual six months. This, Paula said, has caused her much pain.
She said the last conversation with her husband lasted for hours last Thursday, of which he spent most of the time speaking about plans he had to help her to move on to getting a career.
"He was planning to help me to do an early-childhood course and for a long period he was there telling me to seek out a shop because he wanted to start a business so that it would be easier for me while I am studying," she noted.
"He was that type of person, anything that he said he was going to do for you, he wouldn't stop until he get it done. He just always wanted the best for his family," Roach said.
The Ministry of Labour has retained the services of a private counsel in Canada to settle legal claims on behalf of the two Jamaican farm workers who died there last week.
Paul Roach and Ralston White died from environmental suffocation while attempting to fix a malfunctioning tank on an apple farm on which they worked. Their bodies are to be returned this week.
"<span style="color: #CC0000">The report is that the pump in one tank was malfunctioning and one of the workers decided to go into the tank and to fix it. By the time he entered the tank, he inhaled the gas that was being generated and became unconscious. The other worker went in to assist him and he also got suffocated," explained permanent secretary in the labour ministry, Alwin Hayles.</span>
"It was an accident," Hayles said while informing family members how to access benefits from the men's estates yesterday. He said the incident which led to their demise would be taken into account by the lawyer and would determine the final settlement.
Members of the bereaved families had met with officials at the labour ministry, including Minister Pearnel Charles and his junior minister, Andrew Gallimore. They were told that they would benefit from money under two insurance schemes. The benefit includes providing assistance for the children that have been left behind until they reach the age of 18.
Lorna White-Peart, White's sister, told The Gleaner that the family has been stung by the news of his untimely death.
"The way in which he died, the family is taking it real hard. We prefer if he was around sick and we have to care for him. He was the sole provider for his family, he was very supportive, jovial and always wanted us to be happy," she said of the father of two.
During yesterday's meeting, White-Peart expressed an interest in travelling to Canada to view the scene where her brother died.
Grappling with death
Meanwhile, Paula Roach, Paul's widow, told The Gleaner that the family is grappling to face reality with her husband's death.
"I still can't believe he died; he was so loving and caring," she said.
Paul left for the overseas job on August 10, which is four months later than his usual departure time, and ended up spending only a month of his usual six months. This, Paula said, has caused her much pain.
She said the last conversation with her husband lasted for hours last Thursday, of which he spent most of the time speaking about plans he had to help her to move on to getting a career.
"He was planning to help me to do an early-childhood course and for a long period he was there telling me to seek out a shop because he wanted to start a business so that it would be easier for me while I am studying," she noted.
"He was that type of person, anything that he said he was going to do for you, he wouldn't stop until he get it done. He just always wanted the best for his family," Roach said.
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