CAMILLE CLARKE Sunday, May 14 2006

I am in terrible pain

One of the victims of last Thursday’s explosion on Independence Square, Port-of-Spain, yesterday complained of terrible treatment at the Port-of-Spain General Hospital, and from the EHS services.

Speaking to Sunday Newsday from her hospital bed, Anisha Joseph, 19, said she had not been treated by a doctor for the day, up to 3.30 pm yesterday.

“I was told that I would not receive the Cat Scan results until next Wednesday. I am in pain and I cannot move,” Joseph said.

Joseph is suffering from spinal injuries, and her neck is in a brace. Joseph also said she is suffering from severe high anxiety attacks.

Joseph said she was on her way to class at South East Senior Comprehensive School when the blast occurred. A gas tank belonging to a vendor exploded last Thursday afternoon, injuring Joseph, and nine other persons, including Michelle Lisa King who remains in critical condition. King suffered injuries to her legs.

“I made it all the way to Ross Drugs and I collapsed,” Joseph said, “we called the EHS services twice and they assisted everyone else. A fireman came into Ross Drugs after a while and helped me.”

Joseph said she is not interested in taking legal action against anyone, as it was just an accident. Also injured was nuts vendor, Maureen Bernard. She told Sunday Newsday that she was not transacting business at the time of the incident. Bernard is suffering burns to her face, shoulders, and her stomach.

“I was not expecting that to happen,” Bernard whispered, in pain.

Police revealed that a makeshift gas tank that was used to roast nuts, developed a leak, causing the stove to burst into flames and an explosion occurred.

A makeshift gas tank was seized on Friday morning from the scene of the accident.

Nuts vendor Arnim Atwell, Lisa King, Anisha David and Crystal Persad sustained injuries to various parts of their bodies when the tank exploded. Several teenagers who were liming on the Promenade were wounded in the melee and one sustained injuries to his eye. The names of the other victims were not released. Officers revealed that they are still investigating the incident and are yet to determine if negligence was a factor in the accident which caused injury to innocent bystanders.