Diver Rishi Nagassar saved others but nobody saved him
After explosion rocked No2 Berth last year
RADHICA DE SILVA
radhica.sookraj@guardian.co.tt
A year before he and three other divers died inside the pipeline at Berth No 6, underwater welder Rishi Nagassar risked his life to save several of his colleagues when an explosion rocked Paria Fuel Trading's No. 2 Berth at Pointe-a-Pierre.
This was revealed by Oilfield Workers Trade Union Pointe-a-Pierre Branch president, Christopher Jackman during a candlelight vigil held at the Pointe-a-Pierre Roundabout on Tuesday night.
Jackman said before the February 25 divers' tragedy at No.36 sealine, there were two major accidents under Paria's watch which left workers maimed.
Jackman said in 2021, an explosion occurred at No.11 sealine at Berth 2.
"Reports were that there was an explosion. A large fire erupted which threw persons into the water. Rishi was one of the divers that assisted in recovering persons in the water. Paria claimed it was caused by a grounding fault but investigations are still ongoing apparently," Jackman revealed.
He added, "A worker lost his leg in that explosion at No.11 sealine at No 2 Berth. To this date, we have no conclusion for that investigation, no resolution. We cannot allow a repeat of incidents like this. We will insist on making these matters public until there is a change in the management and a change in the systems," Jackman said.
He also said the explosion at Berth No 2, and the subsequent deaths of the four divers on Feb 25, were not the only incidents to occur.
He said in July 2021, LMCS also had a mishap at its fabrication yard which resulted in a worker being hurt.
"I would like to ask Paria, in July 2021, was an investigation done into an employee of LMCS who lost his leg at an incident at the contractor’s fabrication yard. Was this reported to OSH? What intervention was made on the worker’s behalf? Has the order been completed? Has an investigation from July to present been concluded?"
Jackman said the OWTU will continue to hold vigils to keep the issue burning.
He said if action had been taken after the first two mishaps, the divers would have been alive today.
He noted, "If we allow this issue to die a natural death in. the next two, three, four or five months, there will be another incident again so we need to demand changes in management and changes in the way systems operate," Jackman said.
Guardian Media has sent a list of questions to Paria asking for information on the two accidents, the explosion at Berth No 2 and the accident at LMCS's fabrication yard. Guardian Media will update this story as information comes to hand.
