WEDNESDAY,
10 MARCH 2010 12:35
A WORKER on a National Fisheries Development (NFD) fishing vessel
reportedly died mid-last month of a poisonous gas called
ammonia.
A well–placed source from Noro, Western province, said the vessel
was berthing outside to unload fish for Soltai Company when the
incident happened.
The source said the worker entered the fish hall where the
poisonous gas filled because of a leak to a pipe.
Ammonia is a gas used to help icing in the fish hall.
“The worker was rushed to the hospital but was pronounced dead,” he
said.
He said two other workers who followed the first person were
resuscitated to life.
He said the gas contaminated the tonnes of fish kept in the
vessel’s fish hall.
He said as a result of the contamination, about 13 containers of
the Solomon Blue tayio was held late last month.
“They processed the fish and prepared the containers for export but
found out that they were contaminated.
“It is not clear whether the contamination is linked to that gas
leakage but workers were ordered to destroy all the cans of
tayio.
“But workers say when the fish were cooked, it turned red which was
unusual, but they kept processing them.”
The source said the consignment was destroyed but some senior
Soltai workers are now selling tayio in Noro for only half
price.
“It is a huge story here in Noro at the moment and people are aware
of that.
“Incase anyone selling price in the provinces and the capital at
unbelievable price for tins of tayio, people need to be warned on
this.”
He said that particular set of product is not standardize and is
not fit for human consumption.
The source said he tried to talk to Soltai authorities on the
matter but they were tightlipped.
Attempts by the Solomon Star to talk to them yesterday were
unsuccessful.
By EDNAL PALMER