As traction slows on her online petition calling for the dismissal of the Paria Fuel Trading Ltd board pending investigations into the divers tragedy, attorney Vanessa Soobrattie admits she is disappointed in T&T.
Almost two weeks after she created the petition on Instagram, it has garnered just over 58,000 signatures.
While the target indicated on her petition is 75,000, Soobrattie is hoping the signatures would surpass 100,000.
She created the petition after underwater divers Fyzal Kurban, Rishi Nagessar, Yusuff Henry and Kazim Ali Jr died after an incident in which they were sucked and trapped inside a 30-inch diameter subsea pipeline.
Within 24 hours of its inception, Soobrattie’s petition had attracted 16,000 signatures.
In an interview with Sunday Guardian, however, Soobrattie said the initial fervent towards the petition has since slowed.
“The numbers still slowly growing which made me a bit disappointed because it really feels like that saying which we always hear that in Trinidad that talk is for seven days like that is real because I feel like a lot of people have forgotten what has transpired.”
Despite the various levels of investigations, including the establishment of a Commission of Enquiry, she noted that the board members are still there.
“The board has not stepped down, it’s disappointing and it is showing a flagrant disregard for the opinion of the people of T&T.”
She added, “However, we have to remember that the police are also investigating this matter so if this board is potentially being investigated for criminal charges why are they still there?”
Soobrattie revealed that she was contacted a few days ago by a journalist from Massachusetts, United States for an interview regarding the divers tragedy, but she declined because she did not want to risk portraying a negative image of Trinidad and Tobago.
She added, “I would like the board to understand, however, the potential for this crisis to become more public and to give them the opportunity again to do the right thing and step down.”
She intends to write the board about this new development and ask them to rethink their position to remain in place.
She appealed to Trinidad and Tobago to remember the divers’ families, their pain and demand that they get justice.
“I want the population to remember that the power in their hands. We have been hearing so many new allegations about incidents which have arisen in Paria in the past that should be investigated as well, not just this most recent one.”
Soobratie, however, has confidence in the Commission of Enquiry, particularly because of the appointment of certain persons like Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj, who she described as political, but fair.
However, she added, “While I am confident on that front it is sad to know Commission of Enquiries take so long, but I am just truly hopeful that there is some kind of justice for these families but everybody is legally represented by reputable attorneys and I am sure what needs to be done will be done.”
Soobrattie was not aware of the GoFundMe account set up for Christopher Boodram, the lone survivor of the diving tragedy, which now has over $9,000.
The target sum is $700,000, which, according to the information on the site, will be used to offset legal and medical expenses.
Soobrattie committed to make a donation to the fund and also urged other people to do the same.
The divers were conducting maintenance works on a 30-inch diameter subsea pipeline at Berth No 6, Pointe-a-Pierre on February 25, when they were sucked into the pipeline. Boodram was saved.
The bodies of Kurban, Henry and Ali were recovered on February 28 while Nagessar’s body was retrieved on March 3.
