ATTORNEY Prakash Ramadhar has rejected claims by Paria Fuel Trading Company Ltd that its efforts to compensate the families of four divers who died at its Pointe-a-Pierre facility two years ago, are being frustrated by the families' legal representatives.

After repeating his call for an ex-gratia payment of $5 million for each of the families, Ramadhar said he is fully prepared to take steps before the start of the new law term in September, to initiate legal action against Paria and Land and Marine and Construction Services (LMCS), to ensure his clients are properly compensated.

"If this be that case, we are willing to go the full length."

He hinted these steps could involve raising the matter before the High Court, Court of Appeal and the Privy Council, if necessary.

Even as Ramadhar said this, LMCS also challenged Paria's claim, as did Vanessa Kussie, widow of one of the divers, both in separate statements.

On February 25, 2022, divers Rishi Nagassar, Kazim Ali Jr, Fyzal Kurban, Yusuf Henry and Christopher Boodram were doing maintenance work on a 30-inch underwater pipeline belonging to Paria when they were sucked into it. Only Boodram survived.

They were employed by LMCS.

Ramadhar is the attorney for the Kurban family and Henry's daughter, Aliah.

In a statement on July 29, Paria claimed its efforts to compensate Boodram and the families of the other four divers were being frustrated by their legal representatives and LMCS.

While its attorneys continue to exchange correspondence with those who have presented claims for compensation, Paria said, "This process requires a considered and balanced approach, taking into account all relevant stakeholders, including LMCS, the employer of the impacted divers, the terms of their employment and other key information."

At a news conference at his office at Lord Street, San Fernando on July 30, Ramadhar disagreed with Paria's statement.

He said the Paria tragedy was an issue which deeply troubled the nation's conscience.

"Let me put on the record that Paria were the recipients from us of two pre-action protocol letters and their response was that they were not liable, they were not responsible and therefore basically, 'Go away.'"

He said this happened before last year's Paria Commission of Enquiry (CoE).

In its report, the CoE recommended the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) consider charging Paria with corporate manslaughter for the tragedy.

The CoE report also concluded there was evidence to prosecute Paria Fuel’s terminal operations manager Colin Piper and LMCS owner Kazim Ali Snr (whose son died in the tragedy) for offences under the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA). The report recommended that Paria and LMCS also face charges for offences under OSHA. On July 30, the DPP, Roger Gaspard, announced he had advised the police to probe the deaths. On July 11, Paria, LMCS, and the head of LMCS, Kazim Ali Snr, faced a magistrate on OSHA charges.

Referring to Paria's "frustration," Ramadhar said, "We didn't ask for this (tragedy) t