UPDATE: Accident victim rejects Govt’s offer of compensation
Mr Gilbert, who was not found to be at fault in the accident, had reported to Virgin Islands News Online in January 2013 that he had allegedly visited and written endless of letters to no avail to the Commissioner of Police, Premier’s Office and Governor’s Office, seeking compensation for the damages which had affected his normal day to day activities and resulted in him losing money since he was not able to do certain work without his usual transportation.
His vehicle was down for more than two years, forcing him to delve into his pocket to rent a vehicle as his work (Painting) entails getting around and taking around heavy equipment with him. Renting on nearly a day to day basis was a huge burden on his pocket, according to Mr Gilbert.
No charge was brought in this matter, which was reportedly forwarded to the Ministry of Finance for review and compensation.
Following this news site’s publishing of Mr Gilbert’s plight on January 29, 2013, Government, in a Deed of Release dated January 30, 2013, offered to pay Mr Gilbert $3, 794.11 as a full and final settlement for the claim of compensation for damages to Mr Gilbert’s vehicle.
Gilbert, however, is not satisfied with the amount being offered since he feels it should be a lot more since his losses were far more than what was being offered. According to him, he spent some $14, 822.50 on rentals alone during the period his vehicle was down.
Efforts to get a comment from the Ministry of Finance were not successful.
The Jamaica national claimed he has expressed his dissatisfaction with the amount being offered as compensation to Premier Dr the Honourable D. Orlando Smith, Governor William B. McCleary and Complaints Commissioner Elton Georges but so far he has not received any favourable response from the Premier or the Governor.
Gilbert also claimed that he has sought legal advice on the matter but both attorneys approached so far seemed fearful of taking on his case. “My first lawyer said he could not handle the case and I got a new one but he hasn’t contacted me in two months, he always in court,” Mr Gilbert said.
See previous article posted on January 29, 2013
Expatriate accuses Police/Govt of “injustice”
- Says two years after accident involving police vehicle he has received no compensation
It is not very often that one may see expatriates speaking out against public offices for what they may term injustice as there is always the fear of victimisation or “being sent home” but Jamaica National Mr Alrick Gilbert has simply had enough of the royal running around for more than two years.
Since becoming involved in an accident on August 18, 2010 with a police vehicle, Mr Alrick Gilbert, who was not found to be at fault in the accident, has reportedly visited and written endless of letters directed to the Commissioner of Police, Premier’s Office and Governor’s Office, seeking compensation for the damages which have been an inconvenience to his normal day to day activities.
His vehicle was down for more than two years, forcing him to delve into his pocket to rent a vehicle as his work (Painting) entails getting around and taking around heavy equipment with him. Renting on nearly a day to day basis has been a huge burden on his pocket, Mr Gilbert told Virgin Islands Online.
“I was given the assurance that my vehicle would be fixed shortly after the accident so I decided to rent a vehicle and did this for over two years. I have lost many jobs as a result because I couldn’t respond to requests because I sometimes didn’t have a vehicle. I have even been losing materials because I could not take them with me as I pleased. I don’t even know where my scaffold is right now, “a frustrated Gilbert related to this news site.
According to Mr Gilbert, the accident had occurred on the James Walter Francis Drive in the vicinity of Caribbean Printing Limited and involved Motor Jeep GV 0022 driven by police officer (name given) and a 1998 Mitsubushi Montero (PV 13693) driven by him. There were no injuries reported and the police vehicle, which was attached to the “Crack Down Unit”, received minor damage to its rear bumper. However, Gilbert’s jeep, according to the police report, received damage to its front bumper, grille, radiator support, left front fog light and left/right corner lights.
The police vehicle was uninsured.
According to police investigations, Motor Jeep GV 0022 was travelling along James Walter Francis Drive on the right eastbound lane, whilst Motor Jeep PV 13693 was travelling along the left eastbound lane. On reaching in the vicinity of Caribbean Printing Limited, a fire extinguisher in the rear of Motor Jeep GV 0022 reportedly activated rendering the driver unable to see the road through the white foam mist. As a result the driver of Motor Jeep GV 0022 allegedly pulled to his left in an attempt to safely pull off the road and in the process collided into the front of Motor Jeep PV 13693.
Police, on completing their investigations, concluded that the driver of the police vehicle was at fault due to “the fact that he could have stopped safely in the right lane instead of trying to switch into the left lane whilst his vision was still impaired.
No charge was brought in this matter, which was reportedly forwarded to the Ministry of Finance for review and compensation.
Mr Gilbert alleged that he has written to the Ministry of Finance, Governor William B. McCleary as well as the Governor he succeeded, Premier Dr. The Honourable D. Orlando Smith as well as former Premier Hon. Ralph T. O’Neal OBE, Acting Police Commissioner David Morris, Former Commissioner Raynell Frazer as well as other high ranks of the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF).
Mr Gilbert firmly believes he not been able to get justice simply because he is "not from here”.
“All the police keep telling me is that it is out of their hands. I can’t understand that. In the first instance this matter should have gone to court but they are the police,” said Mr Gilbert who emphasised that he tired running around wasting time and losing money while not being able to make because of his situation.
Very recently, though, he said shoved his hands into his already drained pocket to bring back his vehicle on the road. The vehicle gets around but has not been properly fixed, yet he has had to spend his own money on damages that were no fault of his. “I even went to the man’s assistance after the accident,” he recalled.
Mr Gilbert is calling on “the powers that be” to fix the “injustice” being done to him.
Both the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force and the Office of the Premier were contacted on this matter and both Police Information Officer Diane Drayton and Director of Communications Arlene T. Penn promised to look into the matter and get back to this news site but did not up to post time.
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49 Responses to “UPDATE: Accident victim rejects Govt’s offer of compensation”
move your r@$$ wit tis hateful comments and get a life we all come form somewhere
It's a very old one
What's done is done, I guess you can always try to sue but I wish you luck with that. Trying to sue the Government/Police is like pulling teeth!
I feel for you Mr. Gilbert! But trust me, it isn’t prejudice. This is not the first time, nor will it be the last. "Anyone" who has had the misfortune of getting into a accident with any uninsured government vehicle can attest to the fact that it is a nightmare!
Ppl need to drive responsibly on the road at all times to avoid situations such as this one, now that $3,000 plus could have gone towards repairing the moldy schools throughout the territory.
Mr. G, how quickly you forget. One of your workers mash up my jeep and you refuse to allow your insurance to cover it, you just simply say let it go to court even after the police already told you that your driver was at fault. I had to pay out of my pocket for my jeep and when it came time for court your worker done left the country. Yes, Mr. Gilbert let the record show that you are a worthless man and should take whatever ya get. What goes around comes around. Remember what you don't want for yourself you shouldn't give to others. Want ALL gets none.