By Sue-Ann Wayow
ALTHOUGH he is not longer part of the initial five-member investigate committee for the deaths of the four underwater divers, Eugene Tiah continues to receive support from various organisations.
The committee has been scrapped following his withdrawal and Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley announced that a three-person Commission of Enquiry will now be set up.
While the public outrage, grief and concern for the four divers who died while at duty was understandable, valuable lessons could be learnt from the horrific and traumatising incident stated the American Chamber of Commerce of Trinidad and Tobago (AMCHAM T&T).
On Wednesday, the chamber issued a statement on the incident that claimed the lives of Yusuf Henry, Fyzal Kurban, Kazim Ali Jr and Rishi Nagassar.
AMCHAM T&T a leading advocate for health and safety in the work environment stated it chose not to comment earlier given the wide array of public comments on the matter.
Tiah is a former president of AMCHAM T&T.
AMCHAM T&T stated, “We are concerned that the manner of public discourse and attacks on those who have been willing to lend their expertise are, ultimately, counter-productive. In a country with a relatively small population such as ours, it is almost impossible to find persons to undertake major responsibilities who have not interacted significantly with decision-makers, past and present.”
“Specifically, we wish to place on record our gratitude to former AMCHAM T&T president, Eugene Tiah for being willing to lend his expertise to determine what caused such a tragedy and therefore assisting in preventing similar events in the future. Eugene has demonstrated tremendous safety leadership during his career and is widely regarded as a safety pioneer in T&T.”
His safety record, as the former President of Phoenix Park Gas Processors, was enviable by global standards. His safety leadership continued in his various roles thereafter including as Executive Chairman, Energy and Industrial Gases Business Unit, Massy Energy. Tiah has always acted with utmost integrity and in a most statesmanlike manner, the organisation stated.
“Indeed, even as he stepped off from the now-aborted Investigation Committee into the incident as announced by the Government, he did so to ensure that the work of the Committee was not impeded or clouded by commentary around him. We understand that this is an emotionally charged matter and many, often-competing interests are involved,” AMCHAM T&T stated.
AMCHAM T&T said that it will be looking forward to the identification of the Commissioners to establish the Commission of Enquiry and to the execution of the Enquiry expeditiously.
“We trust that the full and final report will immediately be made public and that the recommendations made therein will be accepted and acted on by the relevant arms of the State,” the Chamber stated.
The Chamber also offered condolences to the families of all the divers who died.
