radhica.sookraj@guardian.co.tt
It’s been a month since four LMCS divers died inside a 30-inch diameter pipeline at Paria Fuel’s Berth No 6 in Pointe-a-Pierre. However, apart from their families admitting to still being haunted, unable to sleep or eat properly, they are yet to receive any serious support from either of the companies or the state.
Divers Yusuf Henry, Fyzal Kurban, Rishi Nagassar and Kazim Ali Jr died in the accident on February 25. Christopher Boodram was the lone survivor.
Speaking last night, deceased diver Nagassar’s wife Vanessa Kussie said they felt hurt and forgotten.
“Today the pain was hard. It was not a good day for me. My son is taking this hard and crying for his daddy. I feel so depressed. I was prepared to go to the (one-month) vigil but my son has been crying and I don’t know how we coping,” she said.
She added, “Paria never cared about us a month ago, you think they would care now?”
Kussie and her son, as well as lone survivor Boodram, are represented by attorney Anand Ramlogan.
Meanwhile, Michael Kurban, the son of deceased diver Fyzal Kurban, said not enough had been done to help the families since the tragedy.
The Kurban family is being represented by attorney Prakash Ramadhar.
On Tuesday, Ramadhar revealed that he was drafting a letter to Paria and LMCS seeking financial assistance for a family member who had been unable to fulfil her educational expenses since Fyzal died.
Meanwhile, the mother of Henry’s young child posted a heart-wrenching video on Facebook with the child begging for her daddy.
The mother is heard saying, “This is what I have to face every night. My children begging for their daddy to come home.”
Mother Nicole Greenidge told Guardian Media recently that Boodram’s testimony had left them in tears and although counselling was offered, none of them had received any specialised trauma counselling to date.
Boodram did an interview a week after the tragedy recalling how they held hands in an air pocket and prayed for their rescue before he decided to leave them and swim up the pipeline in the hope that Paria would send in rescue teams.
His friend Michelle Hosein set up a Gofundme account on March 15 to help Boodram, his wife and three children. She and Boodram attend the New Testament Church of God.
Hosein, in a Facebook video, said, “The fact that Christopher survived this horrible disaster is a miracle. He called on Jesus and prayed while he was in that pipeline. He is a living testimony.”
She added that Boodram’s children were only now realising that their father could have died, noting they too needed counselling.
“It is unlikely that Christopher will be able to return to diving in the near term as he needs urgent psychological support. He is unable to sleep and eat well. He cannot forget the nightmare. The psychological impact is so great that he requires additional psychological assistance to what he is receiving now,” she explained.
Hosein added, “In addition to medical expenses and care, Christopher has unknown legal expenses.”
She said Boodram is seeking independent, internationally-accredited experts and health and safety professionals to testify on his behalf.
“This is separate from the participation and stresses of the Commission of Enquiry.
“Since Christopher gave his personal account, numerous members of the public and even people abroad want to assist,” Hosein said, explaining this is why a Gofundme account was established.
“It is with fervent help and care that compassionate people now have an opportunity to help Christopher and Candy. We want to support Christopher and God will give him the victory in Jesus’ name,” Hosein added.
Up to midday yesterday, the Gofundme had only received $17,611, which represented three per cent of the $700,000 needed for expenses.
