The Chairman of the Commission of Enquiry into the Paria diving tragedy has shut down a request from Paria Fuel Trading Company Limited to bar relatives of the four victims from testifying.
Shortly after noon on Monday, King’s Counsel, Jerome Lynch KC, said he has decided to allow testimony from three family members of the four men.
Lynch said a further decision will have to made about allowing the testimony of two other relatives.
Lynch said he will give the reasons for his decision on Tuesday.
An objection was made by Paria at the start of the Enquiry’s sitting on Monday morning, through the company’s attorney, Gilbert Peterson SC.
Peterson said the statements to be made by the relatives could be prejudicial against his client.
The three family members expected to give statements are the widow of diver Rishi Nagassar, Vanessa Kussie, as well as the mother of diver Kazim Ali Jr, Dr Catherine Ali, and Kazim Ali’s widow, Jamie Manodath-Ali.
Lynch had stated last week that the relatives would only be allowed to read statements about their wait to hear whether their loved ones were being rescued.
The chairman said no attorneys will be allowed to cross examine the relatives.
