The Government of Trinidad and Tobago has announced an ex-gratia payment of TT$1 million to each family of the four divers who tragically lost their lives in the Paria Fuel Trading Company pipeline accident in February 2022. The lone survivor of the incident, Christopher Boodram, will also receive the same amount.
Prime Minister Stuart Young made the announcement during a post-Cabinet media briefing, emphasizing that the payment was not an admission of liability but a gesture to alleviate the ongoing pain and trauma experienced by the families. The decision comes after years of disputes between insurers for Paria Fuel Trading Company and Land and Marine Construction Services (LMCS) over liability for the incident.
The tragedy occurred when five LMCS divers—Kazim Ali Jr., Rishi Nagassar, Fyzal Kurban, Yusuf Henry, and Christopher Boodram—were repairing a pipeline at Paria’s Pointe-a-Pierre facility. The men were sucked into the pipeline during the operation. Boodram managed to escape, but his colleagues perished.
The announcement has sparked mixed reactions. While some have welcomed the government’s decision as a step toward closure for the grieving families, others have criticized it as belated and insufficient. Attorneys representing some of the families labeled the payment “too little, too late,” arguing that it fails to reflect the gravity of the tragedy and its impact on the victims’ loved ones.
Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar condemned the timing of the payment, accusing the government of exploiting the tragedy for political gain ahead of the April 28 general election. She described it as a “manipulative election ploy” and called for greater accountability in addressing what she referred to as corporate manslaughter.
Prime Minister Young defended his administration’s actions, stating that he had been pushing for a resolution long before the election date was announced. He also highlighted his frustration with legal delays caused by disputes between insurers over liability. Young reiterated that families remain free to pursue additional legal claims against Paria or LMCS if they choose to do so.
The Paria diving tragedy has been a source of national grief and outrage over perceived failures in rescue efforts and accountability. A Commission of Enquiry into the incident previously recommended that Paria be considered for corporate manslaughter charges but found insufficient evidence to prosecute individual employees.
As families prepare to receive their payments, questions remain about whether justice has truly been served for those who lost their lives in this devastating accident. The government’s gesture, while significant, continues to face scrutiny as calls grow louder for systemic changes to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
