By Sue-Ann Wayow
THE family members of the four underwater divers who died in the Paria-LMCS tragedy last year will be given an opportunity to speak at the Commission of Inquiry (CoE) charged with the investigation of the deaths.
The CoE resumed on Wednesday at the International Waterfront Centre, Port-of-Spain.
Speaking on several matters before the first witness was called, CoE’s chairman Jerome Lynch, KC, said there were family members who wished to give live evidence and they will be accommodated.
However, they will not be cross-examined and they will not be allowed to cast blame on any particular entity involved.
Witnesses from the Occupational Safety and Health Agency (OSHA) were also asked to be in attendance at the CoE’s hearing next Monday.
The CoE is expected to round up with its witnesses by next Tuesday following which relevant parties will give its closing statements.
Counsel to the CoE Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj, SC, will address the CoE last, Lynch said.
Last year, a request was made to view the hyperbaric chamber which the men – Fyzal Kurban, Kazim Ali Jr, Christopher Boodram, Yusuf Henry and Rishi Nagassar were working on before they were sucked into the pipeline located at Berth #6 at Paria facilities near Pointe-a-Pierre.
Boodram, the sole survivor of the incident was the first witness to give evidence when the CoE commenced its evidentiary hearings last November.
The request to view the chamber is being facilitated but viewing would not be able to take place until next month.
The CoE has scheduled February 23 for that viewing and one additional day to accommodate any evidence to be given arising either out of the viewing or any matter that may occur during the period.
Lynch is hoping though, that it may be deemed unnecessary.
Paria’s General Manager Mushtaq Mohammed was the first person in the witness box on Tuesday.
