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UPDATE: Popo family battles for compensation

- Victim’s boss commits to offsetting all funeral expenses, family said
April 3rd, 2014 | Tags: construction site death mishap Augustin Popo
52 year old Augustin Popo, a national of St Lucia, who died of injuries sustained while on the job on March 12, 2014 at Virgin Gorda. Photo: VINO
This news site visited the home of Mr Popo where his wife Maryann F. Popo (left) and sister Ula M. Plummer (right) were present last evening April 2, 2014. Photo: VINO
This news site visited the home of Mr Popo where his wife Maryann F. Popo (left) and sister Ula M. Plummer (right) were present last evening April 2, 2014. Photo: VINO
The family members said that they are working towards having the body taken to St Lucia by the end of this week for funeral shortly after. Photo: VINO
The family members said that they are working towards having the body taken to St Lucia by the end of this week for funeral shortly after. Photo: VINO
 The Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) yesterday March 20, 2014 released the name of the Virgin Gorda construction site accident victim as 52 year old Augustin Popo, a national of St Lucia. Photo: VINO/File
The Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) yesterday March 20, 2014 released the name of the Virgin Gorda construction site accident victim as 52 year old Augustin Popo, a national of St Lucia. Photo: VINO/File
VALLEY, Virgin Gorda, VI – Missing the opportunity by a few minutes to speak with the boss of 52 year old Augustin Popo, a national of St Lucia, who died of injuries sustained while on the job on March 12, 2014 at Virgin Gorda, Virgin Islands News Online was told by his family that they are now left to sort out compensation for the daily bread of the deceased’s wife and children.

This news site visited the home of Mr Popo where his wife Maryann F. Popo and sister Ula M. Plummer were present last evening April 2, 2014. Mrs. Popo was a woman of very few words but his sister Ms Plummer was not quite the same. Ms Plummer had told this news site last evening that they had some minutes earlier concluded a meeting with her brother’s boss, who was accompanied by a police officer and another person.

She related that they were pleased that the company had no issues with ensuring her brother gets a good funeral as they had sealed arrangements for the full coverage of expenses for the funeral. She said that the boss has gone to the extent of chartering a plane to take the body back to St. Lucia and had given them some other monies in advance to take care of preparatory arrangement.

“But what is to happen to the wife and children after he bury? He used to be the main support for his two children in school, he has eleven children in all but only two of school ages, they not talking properly about that,” said Ms Plummer.

They were not sure about the exact name of the company or that of the boss of Mr Popo at the time. However several calls last evening and this morning April 3, 2014 to the number provided to this news site went unanswered.

They recalled how shocking the news was to them that Mr Popo had died as they said they knew he was not ill. They said that his children are taking it very hard as well as is his mother, who is still alive in St. Lucia.

The family members said that they are working towards having the body taken to St Lucia by the end of this week for funeral shortly after.

Meanwhile the woman with whom Mr Popo shared a seven year common law relationship at Virgin Gorda, Mionette aka Mio, could not hold back the tears as she said she is still in a state of shock and disbelief. She said that the sudden death of her partner continues to have such an effect on her to the extent that she had to return home without working yesterday.

She is also planning to return to St Lucia for the funeral and from all appearance was getting along pretty well with the wife and sister as they were all together in one home being supported and comforted by others who mourn Popo’s sudden death.

See previous story published on March 21, 2014:

UPDATE: VG freak death man ID as Augustin Popo – RVIPF confirmed

ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – The Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) yesterday March 20, 2014 released the name of the Virgin Gorda construction site accident victim as 52 year old Augustin Popo, a national of St Lucia.

According to the Police press release, RVIPF Officers were called to the Nurse Iris O’Neal Clinic in relation to a sudden death. Investigations indicate that shortly after 3pm on March 20, 2014, a worker received an injury while at a construction site in the Coppermine area on Virgin Gorda.

“The deceased who was using a bladed grinder at the time indicated to his co-worker that he had sustained a wound to the throat. He was immediately transported to the Iris O’Neal Clinic when attempts to resuscitate him were unsuccessful,” the release said.

“The deceased was identified as Augustin Popo, 52, a native of St. Lucia and resident of the Valley, Virgin Gorda,” stated the press release.

Persons close to the incident related to this news site that while Popo was using the grinder the blade snapped and slashed him in the region of the throat.

See earlier story published on March 20, 2014

Man dies in VG construction site accident

VALLEY, Virgin Gorda, VI - A St Lucian man known as Popo was killed today March 20, 2014 at a construction site in Virgin Gorda when a tool he was working with slipped and fatally injured him.

Virgin Islands News Online was able to confirm the mishap through several reliable sources.

More details will follow. 

31 Responses to “UPDATE: Popo family battles for compensation”

  • JACK BE STILL (20/03/2014, 17:44) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    Oh my rip
    • Abby (03/04/2014, 15:40) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
      Hope they get compensation from the company because everyone knows how expensive a funeral is. What a sad situation and he was the breadwinner in the family. This is tough on them I know. RIP Popo
  • VG (20/03/2014, 18:45) Like (10) Dislike (2) Reply
    Condolence to the Lucian family
  • was a good man (20/03/2014, 21:57) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    Wow jah know.....popo was a good man. Friendly. .kinda and put others in front of himself. Already miss, somethings just hard to explain.

    RIP Prop
    Gumption
  • VG (20/03/2014, 22:28) Like (1) Dislike (2) Reply
    Just like that
  • qc (20/03/2014, 22:50) Like (7) Dislike (2) Reply
    It again demonstrates the need for safty on the jobs
    • to; qc (21/03/2014, 08:56) Like (3) Dislike (3) Reply
      very very good point
    • Already required (03/04/2014, 10:15) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      Check the Labor code, last edition. It requires employers to establish and maintain workplace health and safety programs. The problem is, like many other laws, they are not enforced.
  • Coincidence? (21/03/2014, 08:33) Like (10) Dislike (1) Reply
    Every time around VG festival somebody die.
  • rip (21/03/2014, 08:56) Like (13) Dislike (0) Reply
    POPO WAS A KIND MAN. NOT A PROBLEM. RESPECTABLE, HUMBLE, JOVIAL AND MANY MORE. HE WILL BE MISSED. MAY HIS GENTLE SOUL REST IN ETERNAL PEACE. CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILY AND FRIENDS.
  • skye (21/03/2014, 13:10) Like (4) Dislike (1) Reply
    RIP POPO....... MY DEEPEST CONDOLENCES GOES OUT THE FAMILY....
  • jj (21/03/2014, 18:02) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
    so so sad
  • Why?? (21/03/2014, 19:29) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    THIS ISASD NEWS!!
  • NICK (21/03/2014, 22:15) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Wow what a sad news ,just learned about my dear buddy just sitting on my couch in Delaware I just can't beleive it .RIP my brother
  • cnn (22/03/2014, 01:10) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Tears filled my eyes
  • Chris (22/03/2014, 14:06) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    he was such a good guy
    I will surly miss him\


  • BVIslander (03/04/2014, 08:14) Like (8) Dislike (2) Reply
    The deceased would have been covered by Social Security which the construction company for which he worked would have been making contributions to in his behalf. It is very interesting......
    • Exactly (03/04/2014, 09:40) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
      Now people can see why it's important to pay their Social Security and that if NHI comes on stream it will be beneficial as well. I'm not sure what she expects the employer to do about his kids though? Perhaps his insurance should have covered something? Did he have insurance for the job? Who knows.
  • Realist (03/04/2014, 09:49) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
    I hope that the Funeral Home will put aside greed and realize the need and treat the family with compassion.
  • andrew (03/04/2014, 09:52) Like (37) Dislike (1) Reply
    So let me get this straight, the bossman paying for the funeral and charteted a plane to St Lucia, the Social security Board is paying the survivors grant and these folks still want more????? The mans death was a tragic sad accident but if he did not make plans for his childrens future while he and his wife had life what must we do now?
  • waht a day (03/04/2014, 10:05) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Poor people them I hope his family have funds to bury him it is so sad how life goes sometimes
  • ta ta (03/04/2014, 10:13) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
    Thanks for this update vino you are just the best!
  • Concerned (03/04/2014, 11:16) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    I would encourage every contractor to purchase workers compensation insurance to cover incidents such as this. This was a freak accident but accidents do happen and that is why insurance is so important.
  • Vg woman (03/04/2014, 12:07) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    At a lost for words right now
  • tretretrete (03/04/2014, 16:38) Like (13) Dislike (1) Reply
    What else compensation do they want? The company promised to give him a proper funeral and charter a whole plane to send him back to St. Lucia. I am not trying to be sarcastic or inconsiderate but his death was an accident! Social security picks up where the company ends off!!!!!
  • merle (03/04/2014, 18:42) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    well she will have to get a job and help support the kids and her self the boss man cannot carry the load he alone
  • The Law (03/04/2014, 18:43) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    This is such a very sad accident to a very nice guy, but.... why have the boss paying about 4,000.00$ or more to fly him back to St Lucia? He could bury right here, where he lived and was happy. That money could have gone a long way for his small kids. Social security will pay the family not only a funeral grant of 3,000.00, but the widow (not his girl friend!!) will received a widowers check every month. Go check with Social Security Board. It really pays for all we to make sure dem are paid every month by the boss. Every employed person has the right to ask if the contribution is always been paid. Even 20 years later a boss can been forced to make payments, to assure the widow or any pensioneer get the best possible pension every month. Go check it out!!!!
  • vvvvvv (03/04/2014, 20:12) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
    Vino how you does get these ppl to speak you are the best!
  • north sound (03/04/2014, 23:01) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    overall he has made a contribution to the constrcution industry RIP popo


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