Christopher Boodram, the sole survivor of the 2022 Paria diving tragedy, has publicly criticized the exorbitant legal fees paid during the commission of enquiry, labeling it a ‘feeding frenzy at our expense.’ In a statement on October 21, Boodram expressed his disgust at the former PNM administration’s allocation of millions to commissioners and lawyers, while the families of the four deceased divers remain uncompensated. He likened the legal proceedings to ‘vultures picking at the corpses of my brothers,’ emphasizing the emotional toll on the bereaved families. The enquiry, which cost $15.5 million, was described by Boodram as a ‘political excuse,’ with none of the Lynch Report recommendations implemented. Despite the matter being referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions, no progress has been made on potential corporate manslaughter charges. Boodram thanked Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar for not appealing Justice Joan Charles’ judgment, which revealed the legal payments, and urged her to intervene to provide relief to the families. He highlighted the ongoing struggles of the families, including Paria’s recent ‘meet-and-greet’ session with its new board, which he dismissed as a ‘well-intentioned public-relations exercise.’ Boodram lamented the lack of justice for the poor, stating, ‘I bared my soul and told my story to the nation for free, and it is grievous and painful to learn about the millions that were spent on lawyers when not one red cent has been paid to the families.’ He also noted the unfulfilled $1 million compensation promise made by former Prime Minister Stuart Young. Paria’s chairman, Nyree Alphonso, acknowledged the pledge but cited complexities with insurers and attorneys as obstacles to timely resolution.