By Sue-Ann Wayow
A FUNDING campaign has been created to assist the lone survivor of the Paria tragedy – Christopher Boodram.
The campaign was created on fundmetnt.com on Tuesday and has a goal of $700,000.
Already there have been 11 donations totalling close to $6,000.
The description states, “The purpose is to raise funds for Christopher Boodram, the sole survivor of that diving horror to aid with all expenses which include medical in order to heal from psychological and emotional trauma, family expenses since he is unable to work for the foreseeable future and legal expenses. Any assistance rendered for his healing and justice journey would help during his greatest battle yet. We thank you in advance for any assistance given.”
The description also quotes from the Bible, Psalm 27 which states, “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell.”
Boodram, was the only one to tell of the horrific tale of being stuck in a pipeline on February 25 while conducting maintenance work, an incident that killed four of his closest colleagues Kazim Ali Jr, Fyzal Kurban, Yusuff Henry and Rishi Nagassar.
The incident has caused all work to cease on pipelines owned by Paria Fuel Trading Company until investigations are completed. LMCS who was contracted by Paria to work on the pipeline at Berth 6 near the Pointe-a-Pierre refinery has also ceased work.
A Commission of Enquiry has been set up by the Government to thoroughly investigate the matter while separate investigations have been undertaken by the Occupational Safety and Health Agency (OSHA).
The deaths of the four divers caused a national outpouring of support with many expressing sympathies for the families as well as grievances in the manner in which the entire situation was handled.
Christopher Boodram’s brother Larry Boodram told AZPNews.com that Boodram has been footing his own counselling bills although Paria hired a counselling firm to offer assistance for the family, but he was not sure of how that was progressing.
Larry Boodram said the fund was created by a member of the church his brother attends.
Apart from that, he has not received any financial assistance from Government although family members met with officials from Paria and Minister of Energy Stuart Young.
Young, at a previous press conference had urged Paria to do whatever it takes to alleviate the grief, pain and trauma faced by the victims’ families as a result of the traumatic incident.
Christopher Boodram remains an outpatient at the San Fernando General Hospital seeing a range for doctors his brother said.
On Monday night during the United National Congress (UNC) virtual report, Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar called for assistance for Christopher Boodram especially legal.
Member of Parliament for Pointe-a-Pierre David Lee had also repeatedly called for assistance for those gravely affected.
He also told AZPNews.com that he believes support would be provided for by LMCS, whom Boodram is employed with.
