By Sue-Ann Wayow
PARIA Fuel Trading Company is sinking even lower in its conduct regarding the deaths of the four underwater divers.
This is according to Member of Parliament for Chaguanas West Dinesh Rambally who said it was shameful that a video of footage of Berth 6, where the divers died, has been purportedly leaked to a social media troll for political propaganda.
He said this was a deliberate attempt to manipulate and tamper with evidence.
Rambally in a statement on Friday said the manner in which the company has conducted itself since the horrific events of two weeks ago when four divers lost their lives has been “abysmal.”
From keeping family members confined to a bus shed on their compound for days to informing them of the deaths of their loved ones via a public news conference will forever be a shameful stain on Paria and the ruling PNM Government, he said.
Rambally said, “However, it appears that Paria has now sunk even lower as camera footage purportedly taken at Berth 6 on the day of the event has been released to a PNM social media troll in an apparent attempt at shameful political propaganda.
“That this leaked footage emerged on the same day the families of Fyzal Kurban, Rishi Nagassar, Yusuf Henry, and Kazim Ali Jr were performing the last rites on these departed souls is discourteous, disrespectful of and aloof to the unfortunate fate of the families immediately experiencing the pain of this tragedy.”
Furthermore, the leaked footage may form part of a criminal investigation, an action can only be seen as a deliberate attempt to manipulate and tamper with evidence, he added.
Rambally said it was also noteworthy that in a post-cabinet briefing on Thursday Minister of Energy Stuart Young could not say with certainty if Paria had properly documented or preserved evidence pertaining to the event.
He also noted that Minister of Labour Stephen Mc Clashie was missing in action despite being ultimately charged under the Occupational Safety and Health Act Chap. 88:08 with ensuring that all systems including preservation of evidence as detailed under the Act was in fact being implemented by the various agencies.
