Diving regulations coming in 2025 to prevent Paria tragedy repeat

THE Labour Ministry plans to implement at least two regulations next year as the ministry moves to to prevent a repeat of the 2022 Paria tragedy.

On February 25, 2022, Land and Marine and Construction Services (LMCS) divers Christopher Boodram, Kazim Ali Jr, Rishi Nagassar, Fyzal Kurban, and Yusuf Henry were repairing a 30-inch pipeline at Paria Fuel Trading Company Ltd’s Pointe-a-Pierre facility when they were sucked into it.

Only Boodram managed to get out alive.

Speaking on October 15 as Parliament’s Standing Finance Committee drilled into the Labour Ministry’s planned expenditure, Couva South MP Rudranath Indarsingh asked Labour Minister Stephen McClashie whether money had been allocated to the implementation of occupational safety and health regulations and policies to ensure there is no repeat of the Paria tragedy.

McClashie said two regulations governing personal protective equipment and commercial diving would be rolled out next year.

“We already have four other pieces of regulations that are currently before cabinet and, as you would appreciate, you would have to roll out regulations on a phased basis based on what your priorities are. Protective clothing and diving are our priorities for 2025.

“We have already had consultations in 2024 where we would have brought down subject-matter experts and we would have met on a full consultation and we are now moving to the other parts of that regulation.”

A commission of enquiry (CoE) into the Paria incident, led by chairman Jerome Lynch, KC, delivered a report to President Christine Kangaloo on November 30, 2023, and on January 19, Energy and Energy Industries Minister Stuart Young laid the 380-page document in Parliament.

Over 50 recommendations were made, including charging Paria with corporate manslaughter.

Two officials from state-owned Paria, as well as the head of LMCS, Kazim Ali Snr, faced a San Fernando magistrate on July 10 charged in connection with the deaths of the four divers, including Ali’s 36-year-old son, Ali Jr.

Paria’s general manager, Mushtaq Mohammed, and operations manager Colin Piper, as well as Ali, faced magistrate Alicia Chankar.

The three men and two companies – Paria and LMCS – faced a total of 15 charges arising from alleged breaches of the Occupational Safety and Health Act.

The men all pleaded not guilty and did the same on behalf of the companies.