DINESH RAMBALLY
AS THIS country witnesses the burial of another son of the soil, I once again extend my heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families, and indeed to the whole of Trinidad and Tobago. This nation is poorer for the loss of these fine young men. Perhaps at the heart of the tragedy is the fact that a father has lost his son deep under the water, and likewise a son has lost his father. Yet we are grateful that at least one diver, Christopher Boodram, was rescued.
Death, in itself, is an occasion of grief but a tragic death such as this shakes us to the core in unimaginable ways. Whilst many people are still trying to find answers to how and why - and that process will no doubt take its toll - there is another aspect to all of this: the families. The children who have lost parents, even when some of them are too young to understand death. The wives and companion who must now single-handedly take up the responsibilities that would have been held by these men. The void, the emptiness, the grief, the regrets are all still raw.
It is commendable that this entire country stands in support with the grieving families, mourns with them and prays for them and their loved ones. May the families find courage and strength to carry on.
Much of the healing process will depend on how the commission of enquiry (CoE) treats with the disputed facts surrounding the tragedy. For one thing, truth and transparency ought not to be compromised, no matter how uncomfortable and incriminating they may appear to be. The families, and indeed the nation, need to know.
The CoE is certainly welcomed as opposed to the previously announced investigating committee. For one thing, the commissioners are charged with making a full, faithful and impartial enquiry into the matter, and justifiably so as their powers are expansive: they can summon and examine witnesses, call for documentary, books, plans and other evidence. The terms of their engagement ought to provide the direction into which this enquiry will go. Obviously, we will want to see what the findings are in respect of crisis management and emergency response operations.
While it is unfortunate that this CoE appeared to have emerged as a second choice after the investigating team, it need not have been so. According to section 51 of the Occupational Safety and Health Act, it is stated:
'Where the minister is of the opinion that any accident occurring or any case of occupational disease contracted or suspected to have been contracted in an industrial establishment is a matter of public interest, he may so advise the President who may cause an enquiry to be held, in accordance with the Commissions of Enquiry Act, into such accident or case of industrial disease and its causes and circumstances.'
One must ask why was this provision inserted within the OSH Act when it is also available under the Commissions of Enquiry Act. The answer is simple: an industrial accident has a high level of importance in its ow
