Eighty-four-year-old Siew Nagassar had 17 children and lived a full life. But for the last two years, he carried a heavy sadness.
“Ever since the 22nd of February 2022, he was struck with that death of my brother and he was never the same since that day,” lamented his son, Rajesh Beharry during his funeral service at Lady Hailes Avenue, in San Fernando yesterday.
Beharry was referring to the death of his brother Rishi Nagassar, who was one of four divers who died in the Paria tragedy.
Beharry said his father was never the same after his brother’s death and became a man of “few words.” At times, he said, Nagassar would forget that Rishi died and would ask for him (Rishi) by his nickname Bredda.
“He always asked the circumstances of how my brother Rishi died.
“My brother lived there inside that pipe for eight days and they had ample time to rescue my brother Rishi and the other divers. Christopher (Boodram) was lucky enough with prayers he came out alive and he did say those boys are alive inside there, go back for them.”
Rishi was among five LMCS divers, including Boodram, Fyzal Kurban, Yusuf Henry and Kazim Ali Jr who were sucked into the 30-inch diameter pipeline on which they were performing maintenance work at Paria’s Pointe-a-Pierre facility on February 25, 2022. Boodram was the lone survivor. Officials of Paria Fuel Trading Company and LMCS have since pleaded not guilty to 15 charges under the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Act, relating to the incident, and the families are pursuing legal action.
Nagassar, a grandfather and great-grandfather, died two Sundays ago after ailing for some time. He was a former fisherman and was well-known in the community. His daughter Susan Moonesar recalled her father taking them to sell fish and recalled how he loved to sing and dance.
Nagasar’s son-in-law Vishnu Beharry described him as an honourable man.
Following the service, Nagassar was cremated at the Shore of Peace in South Oropouche under Hindu rites.
