By SANCHESKA BROWN
Tribune Staff Reporter
sbrown@tribunemedia.net
A BAHAMIAN man was killed when a crane broke and crushed him on Baha Mar’s construction site yesterday morning.
The accident happened shortly after 11.30am in the area of the resort’s parking garage.
Police released little details about the accident but Robert Sands, Baha Mar’s senior vice president of government and external affairs, said the victim was an employee of a third party sub-contractor.
“I can confirm that there was a fatality on site this afternoon in the area of the parking garage,” Mr Sands said.
“A local male, working for a third party sub-contractor was killed. This is an active police investigation, we are not giving any more details than that and we extend our sincerest sympathy to the family of the victim. We are prepared to say it happened around 11.30 this morning but nothing else at this time.”
The Tribune understands the victim, who is in his late 20s, worked for Baker Construction Bahamas Ltd. When contacted yesterday the company refused to comment.
This incident marks the third time someone has died at Baha Mar since construction began at the $3.5 billion resort.
A Chinese man fell to his death in June 2013 and another employee, also Chinese, passed out and died on the construction site in 2012. However, according to Mr Sands, it was later revealed that the latter employee died from natural causes and suffered a heart attack not related to his job.
In an earlier interview, Mr Sands said Baha Mar general contractor China Construction Engineering Corporation makes work sites safety a top priority.
Mr Sands said previously: “(The general contractor) treats any accident or death on the Baha Mar site with utmost seriousness and works with local officials to properly document procedures to ensure all workers are safe. The general contractor has met or exceeded all Bahamian safety regulations, and conducts weekly on-site reviews.”
Mr Sands’ comments came following a statement from Minister of Works Philip “Brave” Davis who in 2013 admitted that “very little was known” about incidents at the resort, adding that his ministry was aggressively searching for an occupational safety expert to act as a watchdog for industrial practices on all work sites in the country.
Assistant Commissioner of Police Stephen Dean said police are investigating the incident. Identification of the victim is being withheld pending notification of next of kin.
Comments
DillyTree 9 years ago
How very sad. Condolences to his family and friends. I do hope this accident was not caused by pressure on the workers to complete the job of getting BahaMar finished. No one's life is worth that.
killemwitdakno 9 years ago
Not even a nickname? Someone might want to help their family out. RIP
ThisIsOurs 9 years ago
No. Let them find out by some other means than a news report. On a separate news item, It was really sad to hear the grandmother say she found out it was her granddaughter who drove off Montague when she listened to the morning news. Really????? The GRANDMOTHER had to hear it on the news????
killemwitdakno 9 years ago
The incident happened a day ago
ThisIsOurs 9 years ago
Yeah I know, that grandmother heard it the following morning. There was more than enough time to contact immediate family and too little time to allow for it to be done. The family could still be trying to reach relatives for whatever reason. Access to online info is making us lose our sensibilities.
TalRussell 9 years ago
Sad occurrence.
TalRussell 9 years ago
"Minister of Works Philip “Brave” Davis who in 2013 admitted that “very little was known” about incidents at the resort, adding that his ministry was aggressively searching for an occupational safety expert to act as a watchdog for industrial practices on all work sites in the country." Okay DPM, 2013 has come and gone, so I am to gather that your 'occupational saftey expert' since hired, was made aware of all saftey practices in force/lacking at Baha Mar? If not, will you now explain to the nation, why in the hell not? What about that other project called BAMSI?
by TalRussell
ThisIsOurs 9 years ago
They forgot the parking...
killemwitdakno 9 years ago
I believe Baha Mar already hired someone who is also a certified occupational safety expert
TalRussell 9 years ago
Comrade you know what, I wouldn't be surprised if they really did forget to construct the cars parking facilities for Baha Mar's - 100% hotel rooms occupancy - filled with fantasy guests. Tell me something. do you think the DPM, actually had hired a watchdog for industrial practices? Back when had Papa had just returned back home from China, after he had signed those 8100 Chinese workers work permits, I posted on a Tribune blog page, how it is was important an saftey issue, that government have an onsite safety watchdog with powers to protect workers at Baha Mar. Yes, we do treat our people rather cheaply. Like we worth is but a dime a dozen.
ThisIsOurs 9 years ago
I'm serious though, remember they were supposed to be open in March. I believe that's a photo of the not so near finished parking structure? Back in March employees were instructed to carpool because they had no parking. What does that sound like for a grand opening?
They've done a good job so far transforming Cable Beach into something beautiful and we haven't seen the half of it yet. They probably tried to do too much at one time and to do it too fast. What must the workers' families be going through? How often do they see and get to spend time with their loved ones? The employees have to work slave hours, have to show they're committed to "the vision". This young man went to work and he's not coming home...
What must the Chinese workers be going through...
EasternGate 9 years ago
This young man's death is most unfortunate. However, I hope the contractor was up to date on his NIB contributions. The family would appreciate the benefits to funeralize him
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