By Sue-Ann Wayow
OWNER of Land and Marine Construction Services (LMCS) Kazim Ali Sr took to the witness box on Monday as the Commission of Enquiry (CoE) into the deaths of the four underwater divers resumed after a one-week break.
Ali is the father of one of the divers who died, Kazim Ali Jr.
LMCS was subcontracted to conduct works on the pipeline belonging to Paria Fuel Trading Company where the men died in February.
Chair of the Commission Jerome Lynch, KC, again reminded the attorneys to question him with “care, respect and sensitivity,” before Ali took his seat in the witness box.
He also expressed his own condolences on behalf of the Commission and the lawyers present as he instructed Ali on how to proceed.
Lynch told Ali, “It must be hard for you to have to give evidence about a matter such as this and we are grateful that you are here to do so. No father wants to see their children die before them. I have my own sons and it must be very difficult for you.”
Ali informed the Commission that he had problems hearing and persons may have to speak up a bit.
The evidential hearings of the CoE mandated to investigate the deaths of LMCS employees Fyzal Kurban, Rishi Nagassar, Kazim Ali Jr and Yusuf Henry began on November 21 at Tower D, International Waterfront Centre, Port-of-Spain.
Rampersadsingh not to be cross-examined
Lynch in his opening statements said that Paria’s planner, Terrance Rampersadsingh, a key witness has completed his interview at the Southern Academy for Performing Arts (SAPA) and a transcript of his statement – more than 100 pages long was only completed on Sunday night.
The transcript would be made available on the CoE’s Website in its entirety.
A summary would also be done and placed on the website.
Lynch said based on information and observation, “I will not be requiring him to come to this courtroom to give evidence… So there will be no opportunity for anybody else to cross-examine him. We will have to rely on what he has said.”
He added that some evidence may also be given as a result of what Rampersadsingh has said from others.
