Radhica De Silva
Black candles were lit outside the home of Paria’s Terminal Manager Collin Piper at Gulf View on Tuesday night as activists from several groups gathered for a second consecutive night to demand answers about the deaths of four divers.
The gathering started with three members of the First Wave Movement, led by Umar Abdullah around 6.30 pm.
President of the South Oropouche Riverine Flood Action Group Edward Moodie arrived a short while later, followed by members of the Responsible Parents Group of TT, COVID-19 Transparency Advocacy Group of TT and the Civil and Human Rights Alliance.
Piper’s neighbours peeped out of their homes as the activists rang the doorbell and then sat without masks in front of Piper’s front gates.
Police officers arrived a short while later in a panel van, usually used when arrests are made.
But they left after seeing the gathering.
Abdullah said they planned to continue picketing outside the homes of managers who have failed to meet with grieving relatives.
Abdullah said, “ I am calling for a swift audit into the health and safety practices in Paria and it would be important to go beyond. Thirty-seven years ago, Collin Piper was also employed in that pipeline.”
“When we were waiting for them, they ran out the back door and they never met with us. This is the most disgusting investigation and there is no professionalism. No humanity,” Moodie said.
He said the Coast Guard divers should have been prepared.
“We want international investigators to come in and it is time for real accountability,” Moodie said.
He said many non-governmental organisations and private interest groups have shown outrage for what happened to the divers.
Ravi Ramdeen, of Sangre Grande, said he knew one of the divers Yusuff Henry.
“He grew up to be a brilliant young man and it is sad. He has gone away too soon. There must be swift justice for the people who are responsible for what happened. There must be some justice,” he added.
The Oilfield Workers Trade Union has also been picketing the homes of other Paria managers since the incident.
