UPDATE: BVIEC Supervisor Vincent Matthew in court over death of Alex George
Mr Matthew, a long time senior officer with the BVI Electricity Corporation, is charged with manslaughter for his alleged negligence, which resulted in the death of young BVIEC trainee Alex George aka ‘Ants’.
Manslaughter charges in George’s death
It was a sad day in the Magistrate’s Court on Monday February 29, 2016 when the government, via Crown Counsel Mr Garcia K. Kelly, alleged that on August 31, 2015 deceased Trainee George was directed by his supervisor Mr Matthew to climb a utility pole located near a yacht club dock at Gun Creek, Virgin Gorda, despite the fact that trainees are not authorised to do such work.
Mr Matthew turned off the Corporation’s power line but allegedly neglected to turn off the yacht club’s generator, according to prosecutor Kelly’s presentation.
Mr Kelly alleged that Mr Matthew then told Trainee George it was safe to proceed with his work. As he proceeded with the yacht club generator not off Mr George was electrocuted moments after he started to work, resulting in his death.
Vincent Mathew’s Defense
Mr Mathew is being represented by Akilah Anderson from the law firm O’Neal Webster. She requested bail for her client and told the court that Mr Matthew, who she said had lived in Virgin Gorda for 37 years, is not a flight risk. She claimed he has cooperated with the police and has strong ties to the Virgin Islands.
Mr Matthew is a St Kitts national with Virgin Islands Belonger status, according to information obtained by our newsroom.
Magistrate Ayanna Baptiste DeBreo granted Mr Matthew $80,000 bail with sureties and ordered him to return to court on May 27, 2016. To date Mr Matthew is still employed with the BVI Electricity Corporation; however, it is unclear whether the defendant is still actively working.
BVIEC top officials are tight-lipped about the case and Mr Matthew’s employment status.
See previous information published February 29, 2016
Man charged with manslaughter in death of BVIEC worker
Detectives within the Special Investigations Unit have charged a man with the negligent manslaughter in relation to the death of BVI Electricity Corporation Linesman Alex 'Ants' George.
BVIEC Senior Linesman Vincent Matthew, 54, made his first appearance before Magistrate’s Court today February 29, 2016 and was granted bail in the sum of $80,000 with a signed surety.
On August 31 of last year, Alex 'Ants' George died shortly after commencing work on an electricity pole in Gun Creek, Virgin Gorda.
Postmortem examination determined that his cause of death was electrocution.
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19 Responses to “UPDATE: BVIEC Supervisor Vincent Matthew in court over death of Alex George”
I agree with your opinion. They should be. Thats the BVI. Friends protect friends when they are wrong While they kill those they hate when they are right.
@nonesense as you spell it.... Question? If that young man showed up to work not properly dressed and equipped for the job then why did the supervisor allow him to do the job? What nonsense you talking? Wah sh*t I seeing here. If the Yacht Club generator couldn't be turned off and had a faulty switch then exactly, who is to bland and why was the job still done. Those avenues should have been visited before doing that job. Why were live wires still present??? Steups. Just go sidung.
Now BOO you are a man/woman with sense. That is a fact. Generators should not backfeed on to the government electrical line.