The PNCR/APNU has called for an independent investigation into the death of Venezuelan diver Luis Martinez during maritime salvage work, questioning the emergency arrangements and the reported decision to transport him to Georgetown rather than seek medical assistance in Region Two.
In a statement issued yesterday, the party also urged the government to clarify whether the operation was directly connected to the MV Barima salvage contract and identify the company and contractors involved.
Police yesterday disclosed the incident, four days after Martinez reportedly became unresponsive during diving operations approximately 10 nautical miles off Anna Regina.
According to the police account previously reported by Kiskadee Watch, Martinez left Kingston Wharf, Georgetown, at about 5.14 pm on October 28 with other crew members for an operation to refloat a vessel.
He entered the water at the location but failed to resurface after approximately 20 minutes. Crew members pulled him up using a rope attached to his body and found him motionless and frothing at the mouth.
He was taken to the Transport and Harbours Department wharf at Stabroek, where ambulance personnel were summoned. A doctor pronounced him dead at approximately 2.30 am on October 29. His body was taken to Memorial Gardens Funeral Home pending a post-mortem examination.
The police statement did not name the vessel being salvaged, identify Martinez’s employer or detail the emergency assistance available.
Yesterday PNCR/APNU expressed condolences to his family and colleagues, while calling for a transparent examination of the circumstances of his death.
“It is therefore reasonable to ask: Was there a qualified medical team on board? What emergency medical equipment and supplies were available? What emergency response protocols were established? Who was responsible for ensuring that the operation met the necessary safety requirements?” the statement said.
The PNCR/APNU argued that a medical emergency involving a diver was a foreseeable risk which should have been addressed before a complex underwater operation commenced. It called for disclosure of the medical personnel, oxygen supplies, resuscitation equipment, first-aid provisions and other emergency resources available.
The statement did not establish which of those arrangements were in place. It said that if basic safeguards were absent, the government and those supervising the operation should account for that failure.
The party also questioned whether consideration had been given to seeking assistance at Suddie Hospital or another suitable facility in Region Two.
“Was the decision to transport the individual to Georgetown based on medical advice, operational considerations or the absence of adequate medical facilities in Region Two?” it asked.
It urged the government to explain the decision and whether the time spent travelling to Georgetown could instead have been used to obtain emergency treatment on the Essequibo Coast.
Linking its concerns to the recovery of the MV Barima, the PNCR/APNU said the salvage operation carried responsibilities extending beyond the execution of a contract, particularly to bereaved families awaiting answers.
It called for publication of the relevant contract details, including the operational plan, safety requirements, timelines, allocation of responsibilities and monitoring arrangements. It also sought regular, verifiable updates on the recovery effort.
The party criticised what it described as a delay of several days before police publicly disclosed the fatal incident, saying the public was entitled to timely information.
Its proposed independent investigation would examine the circumstances of Martinez’s death, the emergency response and the adequacy of the safety procedures governing the diving operation.
“Those undertaking the salvage operation deserve proper protection, and the Government has a responsibility to ensure that no further lives are unnecessarily placed at risk,” the party stated.
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