In a significant gesture of national compassion, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar personally delivered ex-gratia payments of $1 million each to Christopher Boodram, the sole survivor of the Paria diving catastrophe, and the families of deceased divers Rishi Nagessar and Fyzal Kurban. The ceremony occurred on January 22, 2026, at the Diplomatic Centre in St. Ann’s, marking a decisive shift in the government’s approach to one of the nation’s most tragic industrial accidents.
The Prime Minister’s Office issued a statement condemning the previous administration’s handling of the aftermath, accusing them of prioritizing legal expenditures over direct humanitarian support for the affected families. The statement emphasized that the current government operates on principles of accountability and citizen welfare, ensuring that no individual would be abandoned in their time of need.
The compensation initiative commenced with these three recipients and will expand progressively to include all families impacted by the February 25, 2022 incident. The tragedy unfolded during routine maintenance on a 30-inch underwater pipeline at Berth 6, Pointe-a-Pierre, when a sudden differential pressure event (Delta P) sucked five divers into the oil-filled conduit. Only Boodram emerged alive after enduring nearly four hours of entrapment in complete darkness.
This governmental action follows the January 2024 Commission of Enquiry report, which recommended corporate manslaughter charges against Paria Fuel Trading Company and potential prosecutions under the Occupational Safety and Health Act for company officials. Previous delays in compensation, attributed to insurance liability disputes between Paria and contractor LMCS, were resolved through the current administration’s direct intervention.