THE Opposition UNC has said it hopes the police probe into the Paria diving tragedy will be timely.
UNC deputy political leader Dr Roodal Moonilal made this comment on July 31.
Christopher Boodram is the only survivor of the incident on February 25, 2022, at Paria's Pointe-a-Pierre facility. He and fellow Land Marine Construction Services (LMCS) divers Rishi Nagassar, Kazim Ali Jr, Fyzal Kurban and Yusuf Henry were sucked into a 30-inch underwater pipeline on which they were doing maintenance work.
In a July 30 statement, Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Roger Gaspard, SC, said he had advised Commissioner of Police Erla Harewood-Christopher to initiate criminal investigations to find out whether there is enough evidence to charge any person or entity with manslaughter by gross negligence.
Gaspard added that Harewood-Christopher told him she had appointed an officer to head the investigation.
In a WhatsApp comment sent to Newsday, Moonilal also said he hoped the police will get the full co-operation of the relevant state entities.
He added, "The UNC has always called for the might of the law to descend on all those accountable for the most hideous and brutal treatment of workers at industrial and marine workplaces."
In a brief statement on July 30, Paria said, "Further to the statement issued today by the DPP, Paria Fuel Trading Company Ltd will seek the appropriate legal advice and will be guided by the advice received with respect to any investigations going forward."
Paria's lead attorney, Gilbert Peterson, SC, said, "I cannot comment at this stage. The process has to run its course."
LMCS attorney Dinesh Rambally said, "I think at the end of the day, justice will only be served when those responsible for these deaths are swiftly called to account and brought to justice for their gross negligence."
Also on July 31, Boodram, in a statement sent to Newsday, said he was heartened by the police probe into the tragedy.
He said, “I am extremely happy that the DPP instructed that a criminal investigation be conducted by the TTPS (TT Police Service) into the diving tragedy that claimed the lives of my four brothers and co-workers.”
Boodram said he was in a "never-ending nightmare" from which he could not wake up since the tragedy.
“Whilst I continue to suffer in silence, the Lord is my shepherd and I know He is beside me as I swim through the pipeline of death each day.”
Noting his testimony before the Paria Commission of Enquiry (CoE) last year, Boodram said, “I have waited patiently and expectantly with each passing day hoping for a miracle in the form of some official sanction or action or compensation for the bereaved families.”
On July 30, Newsday spoke with Nagassar's widow Vanessa Kussie who said she was willing to co-operate with a police probe into the divers' deaths.
She said, “If the police wish to interview any of the families, we will be most willing to co-operate, because all of the families who were there knew what was going on behind those gates. Criminal charges are
