By Sue-Ann Wayow
OPPOSITION Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar is calling for a complete shutdown of all works allegedly being done at the Berth 6 where the four underwater divers tragically lost their lives in a pipeline out at sea.
She also said that the lockdown must be done by the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) and the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
Persad-Bissessar was speaking during the United National Congress (UNC) Monday night forum spending most of her speaking time lambasting the Government and the heads of Paria Fuel Trading Company for their handling of the entire matter.
She said, the tragic incident will be a turning point for Trinidad and Tobago and citizens should not forget Government’s “uncaring” manner” in it.
“The Opposition will continue to pressure the Rowley regime to ensure that justice is done,” she said.
Persad-Bissessar is claiming that Hull Support Services was engaged to continue work on the pipeline and she had information that Paria Fuel Trading Company held a safety meeting last Sunday to commence operations on the pipeline.
She claimed, “Even before the committee started investigation work, Paria it is now being reported, sent the divers to work on the same pipe. To do what? Are they conducting repairs? Are they fixing problems caused by this incident? Are they covering up?”
She also questioned if Paria had a proper safety analysis for this.
Persad-Bissessar demanded that the berth be locked down to prevent any evidence from “being contaminated” alleging there was an issue of “involuntary or deliberate homicide.”
Employees of LMCS Ltd, Kazim Ali Jr, Fyzal Kurban, Yusuff Henry and Rishi Nagassar died while working on a Paria pipeline at Pointe-a-Pierre on February 25.
A five-member panel has been appointed to do complete and thorough investigations into what led to the deaths of the four men.
Energy Minister Stuart Young had said in Parliament that all major works were suspended on the berth and contractor LMCS were taken off all Paria pipeline jobs while the investigation was being conducted.
Both Paria and LMCS issued statements on the incident on Monday.
