BY JONIQUE GAYNOR, Staff Reporter
Six-year-old son Nigel Adams - CONTRIBUTED
MICHAEL ADAMS IS furious at the authorities for an injury his son, Nigel, suffered after falling into a manhole near the National Heroes Circle.
Adams told THE STAR that he was walking along the road with his six-year-old son, when he [the son] fell into the uncovered manhole. "Di cover burst offa di manhole and di steel project out. He fell in it and the steel go straight through his foot. He was going down into the hole and I had to pull him out."
He says he took his son to the Bustamante Children's Hospital where he received several stitches. He also told THE STAR that doctors told him that his son could have been 'slow poisoned' had he not taken such quick action. "Di doctor seh is a good ting mi never hesitate cause di steel did start go deeper in him foot. An tru mi wrap it, it not so bad."
Adams says he plans to follow the matter to the very end. He says so far, he feels as though no one is willing to listen to his case and said he was simply advised to leave a letter when he sought redress from the National Works Agency.
SPEND $2000
"I would like to see it exposed. There are several manholes and people are getting damaged. They need to repair it because several people can be injured. I had to spend $2000 at the hospital and there's more to come cause it might become worse because a piece of the bone chip off, " Adams said.
He fears that the injury will worsen and says "sometimes im jus get up and seh di foot a stick im. We have to go and do more tests and dem might have to cut di foot open."
Communications manager at the NWA, Steven Shaw, says in cases like these, a complainant can seek recourse. "The complainant can send a complaint to us in writing or attend our offices where he/she will be addressed by a competent officer. Given that the accident took place on one of our roadways, an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident will be conducted and a report submitted to the regional manager and the legal department."
He also added that persons seeking compensation should submit along with the letter, copies of any costs incurred as a result of the accident.
He also acknowledged that the NWA was aware of the manholes "around the city that may pose a threat to persons". He says these have become dangerous because persons have removed the covers. He also added, "There are some that have been damaged by heavy units and there are others that have outlived their useful life and need replacing. We have a programme that will be implemented shortly to correct some of the problems in the Corporate Area."
However, he added that they would need the public's help to maintain the manholes.
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