By Sue-Ann Wayow
JAMAICAN Justice Dennis Morrison, QC, is expected to arrive in Trinidad on April 18 to lead the Commission of Enquiry into the deaths of the four underwater divers that took place in February.
On Thursday, Energy Minister Stuart Young during a post-Cabinet press conference said measures were being put in place to officially begin the inquiry.
The press conference took place while attorney Gerald Ramdeen spoke at the Hilton Trinidad and Conference Centre detailing information revealed through a private autopsy conducted on one of the diver’s bodies, Kazim Ali Jr.
Young said he has been in contact with Morrsion as well as Gregory Wilson, a subsea specialist and counsel to the commission Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj who will be assisted by attorneys Ronnie Bissessar and Vijaya Maharaj.
Morrison’s first order of business would be to be sworn in first as commissioner, followed by a meeting Maharaj.
Young said, “It is the chairman of the commission along with his commissioners to determine how the commission goes forward. It is not the Government’s purview. It is an independent Commission of Enquiry. Dennis Morrison will lead it along with the support of those who I have named. They will set the timetable.”
He added, “We the Government are in the process of preparing where the Commission will sit and providing and ensuring there is support for the commission.”
Young said he has already spoke to Attorney General Reginald Armour concerning a secretary who may come from the Ministry of Legal Affairs or recommended by the AG. Support staff and funding will also provided by the Government.
And Young said he also spoke to Maharaj and Wilson asking that they be prepared to address the public from the week of April 18 as to how the commission will be conducted.
Two committees announced have already been dismantled following issues in the public domain and on March 10, Young announced that Morrison will lead the Commission.
The commission has six months to submit its report to President Paula-Mae Weekes relating to the deaths of Fyzal Kurban, Yusuf Henry, Rishi Nagassar and Kazim Ali Jr who all died while conducting maintenance works on a pipeline at Paria Fuel Trading Co Ltd in Pointe-a-Pierre on February 25.
Young said this Commission was one set up in the shortest possible time frames and there was no need to have any fear or apprehension.
