Paria Tragedy Survivor Welcomes $1M Relief Payment

Christopher Boodram, the only survivor of a tragic incident at Paria Fuel Trading Company, has received a $1 million ex gratia payment from the government. The tragedy, which occurred at Paria’s Pointe-à-Pierre facility in February 2022, led to the death of four divers working inside a pipeline. The payment, announced by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, comes almost four years after the incident and brings some relief to Boodram’s family after years of emotional and financial instability. Although not an admission of liability, ex gratia payments offer relief in exceptional circumstances. The incident sparked widespread public outrage and led to a national conversation on workplace safety and accountability in the energy sector. Boodram continues to live with the aftermath of the incident, while the families of the deceased divers are still seeking closure and accountability.

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