Mother of San Fernando WASA worker buried alive: Safety measures lacking

Joyce Grant-Roberts, the mother of the Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA) worker who died after being trapped in a trench on Sunday, said she intends to leave no stone unturned.

Though investigations are still going on into the death of Kern Ettienne, 39, Grant-Roberts accused the state company of negligence, citing a lack of proper safety measures.

"I am not leaving any stones unturned when it comes to my child. That was negligence on behalf of WASA. They need proper safety measures when doing these types of work. Unfortunately, it happened to my son, but they will have to learn a lesson from that," Grant-Roberts said at the family's home on Tuesday.

She was baffled that while a hole was caving in, workers nearby apparently waited for it to cave in completely before trying to help.

Grant-Roberts is the mother of seven, grandmother of 12, and "proud great-grandmother of three."

Ettienne, a craftsman, from Embacadere in San Fernando, was the father of two. He had worked with WASA for the past 17 years.

He was standing in a trench at Rienzi Kirton Highway, San Fernando, near the Cross Crossing overpass, on Sunday when a mound of dirt collapsed and trapped him underneath.

He and other workers were doing emergency repairs on a sewer pipeline. His colleagues managed to get him out.

Ettienne was taken to the San Fernando General Hospital (SFGH), where doctors declared him dead.

His grieving mother recalled she was resting at home when one of her granddaughters told her Ettienne had been involved in an accident.

Grant-Roberts said she got ready, and together with two of her children – Kern's twin brother Kerdell and one of their sisters – she headed to the hospital.

Grant-Roberts was told her son had been unresponsive when he was brought into the hospital.

She recalled that while talking to a doctor about Ettienne's condition, she felt an intense pain in her stomach, and somehow, she knew he had died.

She added that blood was running from his ears and nose.

She recounted the last time she saw him alive on Sunday morning before he left home for work.

He borrowed $40 from one of his sisters and promised to return home for food during the day, as she had already started to prepare lunch. He did not return for the food.

"Kern was Kern. He was a lively child. Even if you are sad, and he passes along, you will laugh. He was the life of the party.

"He was an Orisha Baptist," she said.

She acknowledged that WASA has been in contact and is helping the family.

A post-mortem is set for Wednesday at the mortuary of the Point Fortin Hospital, as infrastructural work is taking place at the pathology department of SFGH.

WASA has offered "sincere condolences" to Ettienne's family, friends and co-workers.

On Monday, WASA CEO Kelvin Romain told Newsday the company would cover funeral expenses.

WASA, the Occupational Safety and Health Authority and Agency and the police have each launched an investigation into the death.