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The final diver was laid to rest yesterday.

Rishi Nagassar was the last body to be recovered from the pipeline one week ago.

A Hindu service was held at the Nagassar family’s Perseverance Village Couva home.

Officiating Pundit Surujdath Maharaj said the tragedy left every one in shock and disbelief.

He said no one should cast blame until the truth is told.

After the ceremony the casket was carried through the streets of the village to the Couva Cemetery for burial.

The 4 divers were employed by LMCS, which was contracted by Paria Fuel Trading Company Limited to carry out work on the 30-inch pipeline.

The tragedy struck two Fridays ago.

Renowned Jamaican Jurist, Justice Cecil Dennis Morrison Q.C has been appointed to lead a 3-member Commission of Enquiry into the tragedy at Paria Fuel.

The Commission of Enquiry will look into the circumstances surrounding the deaths of four divers who were working on an underwater crude oil pipeline 2 weeks ago.

Two days after the Prime Minister announced his decision to establish a COE his Energy and Energy Industries Minister Stuart Young names the make up of the commission.

Minister Young told the post cabinet news conference 2 others will join the Queens Counsel and a former Trinidad and Tobago Attorney General will be involved.

The commissioners must submit their report to the President within 6 months of their first sitting.

The COE replaces the five-member investigative team, which was initially tasked, by the government, with determining the liability and what led to the deaths of divers Yusuf Henry, Kazim Ali Jr, Fyzal Kurban, and Rishi Nagessar at facilities owned by the Paria Fuel Trading Company Limited in Point–a-Pierre on February 25^th.

A 5^th diver who had gone missing, Christopher Boodram, was rescued.

A man, identified as Deonarine Jadoo has been shot and killed in Arima.

The 54-year-old was shot at his Block 5, Moonan Road home.

The incident is said to have occurred at 2 o’clock this morning.

Neighbors say they heard an argument coming from the house and then gunshots.

They say they went to investigate and found Mr. Jadoo bleeding from gunshot wounds.

Reports say his hands were tied behind his back and his head covered by a blue t-shirt

Police were called to the scene.

Investigations are now ongoing.

The Water And Sewerage Authority has repaired some 6,000 leaks across the country in the last 4 months.

And Minister of Public Utilities Marvin Gonzales says there are still thousands of leaks to be addressed.

Addressing the conversation with the Prime Minister last evening Mr. Gonzales said leaks affect the delivery of supply in the system.

He also told of an aggressive road repair program to be embarked upon. Minister Gonzales also said a strategic action plan to deliver water to citizens over the short to medium term has been developed.

The Prime Minister has announced his intention to set up a commission of inquiry into the deadly incident at State owned Paria Fuel Trading Company Limited.

Four divers died in that incident almost 2 weeks ago.

The government had appointed a five-member committee to probe the incident but the Opposition was not convinced it was independent enough.

It demanded the removal of one member, energy expert, Eugene Tiah.

Last night Dr. Keith Rowley said Mr. Tiah has withdrawn from the committee.

He said this has led to his decision.

He told the resumption of the “Conversations With the Prime Minister” series, the Opposition was slanderous in its attacks on Mr. Tiah.

He said the commission of enquiry would source international members.

The 5-member committee was set up by the Ministry of Energy and was to be chaired by Attorney-at-Law Shiv Sharma.

It was to determine the cause of the incident, which claimed the lives of Fyzal Kurban, Rishi Nagassar, Kazim Ali Jr. and Yusuf Henry.

Gregory Boodram was also hurt during the incident.

All were employed with LMCS, which was subcontracted by State owned Paria to conduct work on the pipeline.

The Water And Sewerage Authority says a voice note in circulation, warning the public to refrain from drinking pipe borne water, is false.

The voice note began circulating on Sunday night.

Yesterday Manager of Corporate Communications Daniel Plenty, told Newscenter 5 the claim cannot be supported by any scientific testing.

Mr. Plenty also said the water quality being distributed across the country meets international standards.

Mr. Plenty said WASA has launched an investigation into the origins of the voice note.

A call from the Minister with Responsibility for Gender and Child Affairs in the Office of the Prime Minister, for more citizens to embrace environmentally safe practices.

This in her message commemorating International Womens Day, which is being observed today under the theme “Gender Equality Today for a Sustainable Tomorrow”.

In a video taped message MP Ayana Webster Roy says there is a role all can play.

Mrs. Webster Roy also highlighted the accomplishments of women in Trinidad and Tobago over the years.

International Women’s Day recognises the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women.

The event celebrates women’s achievements and raises awareness about women’s equality and lobbies for accelerated gender parity.

Thirty-six nationals of this country have been awarded for their contributions in different fields.

The National Awards Ceremony for the year 2020 was yesterday held at the President’s House, after a 2-year hiatus because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

President Paula Mae Weekes handed out the awards.

The highest honor for 2020 went to Dr. Wayne Frederick.

He is a former CIC student who is currently serving as the distinguished Charles R. Drew endowed chair of surgery at the Howard University College of Medicine.

Dr. Frederick is also the author of many articles, book chapters and editorials.

The second highest award, the Chaconia Gold, went to 8 nationals, including retired Judge of the Caribbean Court of Justice, Rolston Nelson, Professor Stephan Gift, former politician Dr. Emanuel Hosein and former Chief Secretary Orville London.

Also receiving Chaconia Gold are musician Errol Ince and Pundit Hari Persaud, posthumously for his contribution for religion and culture.

Journalist-librarian Debbie Jacob received Chaconia Gold for her work in the nations prisons.

Journalist Dominic Kalipersad was awarded for his work in the profession and Neil Guiseppi for his contributions in media and culture.

They both received Humming Bird Gold medals.

The leader of the Opposition, Kamla Persad Bissessar says she has information that attempts are being made to get the operations at Paria’s Berth 5 working once again.

Mrs. Persad Bissessar is asking the State owned company to confirm or deny the information.

At the UNC’s Monday night forum, the leader of the Opposition describes the Paria facility as a crime, which should be off limits.

Mrs. Persad Bissessar said there are so many questions to answer regarding this incident.

Mr. Kurban was cremated yesterday after a ceremony at his home.

His son, Michael remembered him as a man who made every challenge fixable.

Mr. Kurban and the other 3 were sucked into a 30-inch pipe while carrying out maintenance work.

Gregory Boodram was injured during the incident.

He is now the lone survivor of the tragedy.

The company for which the 4 divers who lost their lives at Paria Fuel, worked, is saying they could have been saved.

LMCS says it had the means and the manpower to rescue Fyzal Kurban, Rishi Nagassar, Kazim Ali Jr. and Yusuf Henry, 2 Fridays ago, after they were sucked into a pipe at Berth 5.

LMCS claims Paria Fuel Trading Company Limited prevented it from going in.

But Paria describes the claims as unfortunate.

Yesterday LMCS issued its first statement since the incident at Paria.

LMCS said it not only had the manpower to carry out the rescue, but it provided Paria with the methodology to execute it.

However, LMCS said at all material times it was prevented by Paria and the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard.

It asserted it was not given the chance to save the lives of its employees.

But Paria is telling a different story.

Paria said yesterday the 30-inch pipeline, which was being worked on, was inactive since 2018.

As such, the company said nothing could have been switched on or activated.