on the fishing boat owned by Basima Hilsaca. 317 Mr. Castellón dived to a great depth, was
taken to the hyperbaric chamber 318 and was diagnosed with decompression sickness in
September of the same year. 319 He filed a claim for compensation before the Occupational
Health and Hygiene Office. In 2001, the Ministry of Labor and Social Security determined that,
based on the medical opinion, 320 Mr. Castellón was entitled to a compensation of 227,850.00
lempiras. 321 On February 15, 2001, a payment agreement was signed between Mr. Castellón
and Mrs. Hilsaca, in which she agreed to pay him 40,000.00 lempiras; it is recorded that she
gave Mr. Castellón the sum of 3,000.00 lempiras, indicating that the rest would be paid in
March and August of the same year. 322 In view of the lack of payment, Mr. Castellón filed a
labor lawsuit for the payment of compensation for occupational illness. 323 Mrs. Hilsaca was
ordered to pay 37,000.00 lempiras, but she did not comply with this ruling. 324 Mr. Castellón
died in 2002. His son stated that after the accident Mr. Castellón could not walk properly and
consequently could not work, and that he did not receive medical care. 325
Timoteo Salazar Zelaya
39.
According to a report from the Office of Labor and Social Security, Mr. Timoteo Salazar
Zelaya had a fatal accident in 2002 while working as a diver on the fishing boat owned by
Omar Phillips. According to the report, a settlement was reached between the owner of the
vessel and Mr. Salazar’s family for 100,000 lempiras, but his relatives stated in 2003 that
they did not receive any money. 326
317
Cf. Ordinary labor lawsuit filed by Carlos Castellón Cárdenas against Basima Hilsaca on November 20, 2001
(merits file, folio 54).
318
Cf. Interview with Masiel Allen dated October 15, 2014 (merits file, folio 54).
Cf. Ordinary labor lawsuit filed by Carlos Castellón Cárdenas against Basima Hilsaca on November 20, 2001
(merits file, folio 54).
319
320
Cf. Medical report on Carlos Castellón Cárdenas from Occupational Health Services, dated October 5, 2001
(merits file, folio 54).
321
Cf. Calculation of compensation for occupational illness by the Labor Inspector, dated October 15, 2001,
(merits file, folio 55).
322
Cf. Letter of agreement to pay from Basima Hilsaca to Carlos Castellón Cárdenas, dated February 15, 2001
(merits file, folio 55).
323
Cf. Ordinary labor lawsuit of Carlos Castellón Cárdenas against Basima Hilsaca of November 20, 2001 (merits
file, folio 55).
324
Cf. Hearing of May 24, 2002 (merits file, folio 55).
325
Cf. Interview with Dany Castellón Masier on August 6, 2012 (merits file, folio 55).
Cf. Report on injured divers, from January 2002 to May 26, 2004. Addressed to Attorney Carlos Remberto
Zalavarría Reconco, legal representative of the Asociación de Miskitos Hondureños Buzos Lisiados del Rio Plátano"
signed by C. Santos Elpidio Cadenas, of the Regional Office of La Ceiba, with partially illegible seal, apparently from
the Health and Safety Inspectorate of the General Directorate of Welfare of the Ministry of Labor and Social Security
Office (merits file, folio 55).
326
79
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