Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley says he has requested that the board of Paria Fuel Trading Company move quickly to settle outstanding disputes regarding compensation to the families of the four LMCS divers who died inside an undersea pipeline in February 2022.

But the company, he said, was required to take the advice and guidance of its insurers, in order to benefit from the coverage.

This was related to the families of three of the deceased divers – Fyzal Kurban, Rishi Nagassar and Yusuf Henry – at a meeting at Whitehall on Wednesday. The family of Kazim Ali Jnr did not attend.

Minister of Energy and Energy Industries and Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister, Stuart Young and Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Senator Reginald Armour S.C. also attended the meeting.

A statement from the Office of the Prime Minister noted that Rowley expressed sympathy on behalf of himself and the Government of Trinidad and Tobago for the “unimaginable loss being experienced by each family” but made it clear to the families that he could not interfere in the process.

He said, however, it was not his wish that the anguish being experienced by the families should be enhanced and/or prolonged by any protracted dispute over liability and compensation.

“Accordingly, insofar as he is permitted to, as Prime Minister, he has requested that the Board of Paria do all that it can do to address these issues as quickly, and as reasonably as possible,” the release stated.

However, the prime minister said the company could not be reckless. “So, even if Paria were inclined to do so, it is simply not possible for a Board, to wholly ignore the fact that insurance coverage is in place, and that another party is involved, namely the contractor LMCS, and nevertheless proceed to settle the matter,” he said.

The release stated that no figures have as yet been exchanged between Paria and the attorneys representing two of the families.

“… and that Paria/Insurers have recently requested information from the initial two families which touch and concern details surrounding employment by LMCS and earnings. This information is crucial in arriving at a proposed figure for any without prejudice discussions with respect to settlement. That information is not yet forthcoming,” the release stated.

Rowley, the release stated, made it clear that Paria had advice from its lawyers/insurers on the issue of liability. But notwithstanding that advice, Paria and its insurers were prepared to work closely with the contractor/employer LMCS in arriving at a joint proposal with respect to a “without prejudice” settlement of this matter, he said.