By Sue-Ann Wayow
THE supervisor who died while overseeing work at the Phoenix Park New Industrial Estate in Couva on Wednesday was described as someone who fought a tough battle medically and lived for his family.
Parmanan Sookoo, 46, also known as Sunil Sookoo, from Soogrim Street, Endeavour, Chaguanas worked with Universal Projects Limited. He was the father of two, one girl, 16 and a boy, ten.
Police reported that around 3pm, Sookoo was overseeing excavation when he ordered the excavator operator to cease operations at that particular point and move to another point on the job site to load two lorry trucks and he left.
The excavator operator while moving his machine in an easterly direction observed a cellphone on the ground.
He stopped the machine and exited to retrieve the phone when he observed Sookoo under the tracks of the equipment, police said.
The driver had to reverse the machine in order to retrieve Sookoo, while other employees raised an alarm.
The EHS was contacted and officers Marissa Thompson and Gary John from the Trinidad and Tobago Fire Service also responded and left with the Sookoo around 3.23pm. They took him to the to the Couva Health Facility for treatment. He later succumbed to his injuries while undergoing treatment.
Sookoo’s body was taken to the San Fernando mortuary and an autopsy is expected to be done on Friday.
Sookoo’s mother Shirley Sookoo, 64, said she would most certainly miss her second son being around all the time as he lived right across the road from her.
She told AZPNews.com that she was shopping in Pennywise, Chaguanas with her daughter when she was informed of the tragedy by another son.
His mother said, “When I got that call, I just started to bawl and cry and I went home right away. I went to the health facility where they had him but he had already died by the time I reached.
“My other children told me not to look at him in the state he was.”
Shirley Sookoo said, “He loved his family. He worked Sunday to Sunday and always did everything for us. He took care of his father. Three years ago, he got really ill and could not work. A lot of prayers went up for him. He recently started to work at this company.”
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His mother said she was visited by the owner of the company but wants a full investigation into his death.
“Something is just not right,” she said.
Member of Parliament for Chaguanas East Vandana Mohit who knew Sunil Sookoo personally posted condolences on her Facebook page.
Mohit also told AZPNews.com, “It was very sad and shocking news for the community. He is very family oriented and he was recovering well and it is just sad to see him die like this.”
And local government councillor for Cunupia Richard Sukdeo has also reached out to the bereaved family and he told AZPNews.com that he will be visiting soon offer to lend further support.
Attempts to get in contact with Universal Projects were unsuccessful.
