Senior Counsel Faris Al-Rawi says his clients have received serious death threats following the November 8 boating tragedy off Chaguaramas, revealing that GPS devices from the Bambaleo vessel have been handed over to investigators.
Speaking at a news conference on Saturday, November 14, Al-Rawi addressed several issues surrounding the collision, which claimed six lives, while challenging aspects of an account reportedly given by a survivor.
He began by reading the names of the six victims and offering condolences to their grieving families.
The victims were: Anil Ahyee, 38 Titus Augustine, 25 Kieyanna Seechan, 17 Amyir Ali, 18 Jaheim Richards, 23 Lorenzo Oliver, 35
The Coast Guard recovered a sixth body on Saturday morning, believed to be Oliver’s, although formal identification had not yet been confirmed in the latest available report.
Al-Rawi described the collision as a serious incident and said his clients wished to communicate directly with the bereaved families but recognised that they needed space to grieve.
Serious death threats
Addressing the absence of his clients from Saturday’s news conference, Al-Rawi said:
“You may ask why the persons allegedly to have struck the vessel were not present at the press conference today.”
He explained that “there are very serious death threats prevailing right now.”
According to Al-Rawi, several clients have received threats, which have been reported to the police.
He also rejected speculation that those involved had fled Trinidad and Tobago, confirming that his clients had not left the country.
GPS devices handed over to investigators
In a significant disclosure, Al-Rawi confirmed that GPS devices associated with the Bambaleo vessel had been handed over to investigators.
He said the equipment could provide minute-by-minute information about the vessel’s movements, potentially assisting investigators in establishing the sequence of events leading up to the collision.
Al-Rawi also provided an account of the rescue efforts, stating that his clients pulled six people from the water, while a nearby pontoon vessel rescued another 17.
According to the figures he presented, 29 people were involved, including the six fatalities. Those figures have not yet been independently reconciled with earlier police accounts.
Al-Rawi challenges survivor’s account
The Senior Counsel also challenged aspects of a survivor’s account of the collision, raising questions about differing versions of what occurred that evening.
However, he stressed that the incident remains under investigation and cautioned against drawing conclusions from information circulating on social media.
Al-Rawi again categorically rejected allegations that a child had been operating the Bambaleo, describing the claims as absolutely untrue.
Bound by rules of pre-trial publicity
Explaining why he would not provide a detailed account of the collision, Al-Rawi said that, as an attorney, he was “bound by the rules of pre-trial publicity.”
He acknowledged that social media was filled with misunderstandings about what had taken place but said the purpose of the news conference was to inform the public about the process followed so far, rather than conduct a public trial.
He outlined three central positions: his clients wished to express their condolences directly to the families, they were cooperating fully with law enforcement, and they wanted a proper inquiry conducted before the appropriate authorities and tribunals.
The collision between the Bambaleo and Belbagai vessels occurred near Point Cannings, Chaguaramas, on Sunday evening, November 8.
With six lives lost, conflicting accounts circulating publicly and critical evidence now reportedly in investigators’ possession, attention remains focused on determining precisely what happened and whether anyone bears legal responsibility.
The Trinidad and Tobago Police Service continues its investigation.