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  • 6 months ago
Parliament held its first sitting

The Prime Minister said her government will not abuse its majority

And an international news site published an investigative podcast on the Paria Diving tragedy
Transcript
00:00Good evening and welcome to the past seven days on six.
00:20I am Renasa Cutting.
00:22Here's what made the news this past week.
00:25Parliament held its first sitting.
00:27The Prime Minister said her government will not abuse its majority.
00:32And an international news site published an investigative podcast on the Paria diving tragedy.
00:39As per usual, if it was happening, it was on six.
00:42Let's get right into it.
00:45The Prime Minister promised that the new government will not abuse the special majority it has in the House of Representatives
00:51as she delivered remarks during the ceremonial opening of the Parliament on Friday.
00:55She also noted that it is the first time in court of a century that there are three parties in the Parliament.
01:04Parliament belongs to everyone, not the ruling party, not the opposition,
01:10and not some independents who pretend to be independents.
01:13And certainly does not belong to any fake elites.
01:18The declaration by Prime Minister Kamla Pasad-Basasa during the ceremonial opening of the 13th Parliament,
01:25one which she said is remarkable for different reasons.
01:28This is the first time in 25 years, Mr. Speaker, quarter of a century,
01:35that there are three political parties in this House.
01:38So we welcome the third political party, the members of the EU, of the EU, and, of course, the government and opposition.
01:47First Parliament in 25 years.
01:50This plural composition is indeed a true reflection of a diverse republic.
01:58And the Prime Minister extended congratulations to the new Speaker of the House, Jagdao Singh.
02:03Senior Counsel Pasad-Basasa also thanked her constituents for again electing her to serve as the MP for Separia
02:09and was grateful for the number of seats for Party 1 in the 2025 general election.
02:14We are cognizant that our citizens have given our government a three-fifths majority.
02:22That's a very special majority.
02:28And we thank the people of TNT for giving us that majority,
02:35because that's how the law is.
02:36We will need that majority from time to time.
02:38But I give the assurance today we will not abuse that power that you have given us.
02:44The Prime Minister also had some advice for the nine independent Senators,
02:49seven of whom are brand new to the Senate.
02:52The independent Senate bench of the last two Parliament terms
02:55has been amongst some of the not-best ones in our history,
03:00and I trust that in this dispensation and this state in Parliament
03:03that we will get some true independence,
03:06because that is what holds the balance between the opposition and the government.
03:09The Prime Minister gave an indication of what the population could expect
03:13during the new Parliament,
03:15as it is set to begin its debate of the mid-year review of the budget by June.
03:19Crime is not a statistic.
03:22It is a daily terror for too many families.
03:24And so our agenda will include,
03:27both legislatively and non-legislatively,
03:30the fight against crime.
03:31We will give our judiciary and law enforcement officers
03:37the necessary tools and support
03:39whilst we invest in prevention, education, and community development.
03:45We will be looking from groceries to gas to electricity.
03:49We must help the working class in this country.
03:54However, the Prime Minister had a will of caution for all of the MPs.
03:59If you sit in this chamber, all of you,
04:03thinking you are here on your own frolic,
04:06believing that power belongs to you
04:08instead of the people who put you here,
04:11then be prepared for a very short stay in this chamber.
04:18Trust me, Mr. Speaker, I've been here for some time.
04:22Some people just last only one day in this job.
04:25The House of Representatives adjourned, a date to be fixed.
04:34Jewel Brown, TV6 News.
04:37Meantime, the new opposition leader said the PNM will support good law
04:41and is open to collaborating with the government on issues such as crime.
04:45As true patriots, the people's national movement
04:50always seeks the best interests of Trinidad and Tobago
04:53and it is therefore my earnest hope
04:56for impactful and responsible leadership
04:59from the government chosen by the citizens
05:02in the general election of 2025.
05:05The new leader of the opposition, Penelope Beckles-Robinson,
05:08as she delivered remarks during the ceremonial opening
05:10of the 13th Parliament.
05:12We pledge to put the people above politics, country above party.
05:18The opposition of Trinidad and Tobago will be a voice of reason,
05:21portraying professionalism, respect, understanding, strength and clarity.
05:26The opposition leader extended congratulations
05:28to the new Speaker of the House, Jack Dale Singh,
05:31as well as to Prime Minister Kamala Fasad-Bissessa
05:33for her party's victory in the general election.
05:36In acknowledging the PNM's defeat,
05:38opposition leader Beckles-Robinson also spoke about
05:40her party's new chapter as she made an apparent reference
05:44to its upcoming internal election.
05:46The people have chosen the people's national movement
05:49as the opposition party of the 13th Republican Parliament.
05:54Vox Populi, Vox Dei.
05:56The voice of the people is the voice of God.
05:59To the people and through the people, Mr. Speaker,
06:02we thank you for your support
06:03and even as we accept our duty at this time
06:07and as we hold the government to account,
06:10be assured that we have begun the preparation
06:13will allow the people's national movement
06:15to form the next government of Trinidad and to be...
06:19The opposition leader called on the House of Representatives
06:23to be united in its commitment to the democratic process
06:26as she expects the debates in the new term of the Parliament
06:29to be vigorous and passionate.
06:31But let us not forget that our first responsibility
06:34is to our constituents and to our country.
06:38We may disagree, but may we never become disagreeable.
06:43Let us hold ourselves to a high standard
06:46with a shared commitment to advance the principles
06:49enshrined in our Constitution
06:51and to serve the public interests.
06:53The opposition leader emphasized her plan for the PNM
06:57in the new term of the Parliament.
06:58Our modus operandi will not be to oppose for opposing's sake.
07:04We will offer thoughtful, constructive, people-centered
07:06and visionary contributions
07:08as one would expect of a 70-year-old party
07:11that intends to form the next government.
07:14Our policies...
07:16Opposition leader Beckels-Robinson
07:20also reflected the sentiments
07:22of the need for collaboration expressed
07:24by President Christine Kangaloo
07:26to the elected and non-elected members of Parliament.
07:29Mr. Speaker, the government can be assured
07:31of our support for good law and sound policy.
07:35At this time in the history of our nation,
07:37a level of collaboration may be required
07:39to effectively address certain complex issues
07:42such as crime.
07:44However, the opposition leader
07:45had a message for the government.
07:47Crime and other issues of critical import
07:49cannot be solved by games of political football
07:52in this chamber.
07:54Neither can the superficial proposition
07:56of undemocratic measures be the solution.
08:00The people's national movement
08:01cautions that we will not sit by
08:03and allow the wholesale adoption
08:05of unsuitable legislation into our country.
08:09We demand due diligence
08:10and reject cut-and-paste approaches
08:12which have not been properly vetted.
08:14The opposition leader said
08:16the PNM anticipates
08:17the government's discussion
08:19on Tobago's autonomy.
08:21Jewel Brown, TV6 News.
08:23We had to a quick break.
08:25We'll have more news when we return.
08:33Welcome back to the past seven days on six.
08:37Former House Speaker Wade Mark
08:39was sworn in as President of the Senate
08:41last week
08:42in the first sitting of the first session
08:44of the 13th Parliament.
08:46Here's more.
08:48The first sitting of the first session
08:50of the 13th Parliament
08:51saw a total of 31 members sworn in,
08:5416 UNC, 6 PNM,
08:57and 9 independent senators.
09:00At the helm is former House Speaker
09:02Wade Mark,
09:03who gave his first address
09:04as Senate President today.
09:06I wish to firstly express
09:08my deep appreciation
09:11for your demonstration
09:14of confidence in me
09:17by electing me
09:20to preside
09:21over this Honourable Senate.
09:25I pledge
09:27to serve you
09:28and our nation
09:30with honour
09:32and to the best
09:34of my abilities.
09:36Mark is no stranger
09:38to the Senate,
09:39having served
09:40in the 4th,
09:415th,
09:416th,
09:428th,
09:439th,
09:4311th,
09:44and 12th Parliaments,
09:46making him
09:47one of the longest
09:48serving senators
09:48in the history
09:49of Trinidad and Tobago.
09:52It is my hope
09:53that by the end
09:56of the 13th Parliament,
09:59we are able
10:01to look upon
10:02the work
10:03we have done
10:05with immense pride,
10:08knowing
10:09that we have served
10:11faithfully
10:12and dutifully.
10:15Meantime,
10:15political newcomer
10:16the UNC's Kenya Charles
10:18is the new Senate
10:19Vice President.
10:20The UNC's line-up is
10:22Attorney General
10:23John Jeremy,
10:24Arnold Roberts,
10:25Philip Alexander,
10:27Professor Prakash
10:28Poussad,
10:29Brian Bake,
10:30Leroy Batiste,
10:31Dr. Natalie Chaitan
10:33Maharaj,
10:34Satya Kama Maharaj,
10:36David Naked,
10:38Ravi Rattaram,
10:39Dominic Smith,
10:41Kennedy Swartzing,
10:42Eli Zakour,
10:44and the leader
10:44of government business,
10:45Daryl Allaha.
10:47This chamber
10:48has customarily
10:49been a place
10:51of mature
10:52deliberation
10:53and robust
10:56but respectful
10:57debate.
11:00So, Mr. President,
11:02we on this side
11:03therefore look forward
11:06to discharging
11:07our duties
11:08as senators
11:11and working
11:13with you
11:14and all
11:16of our colleagues
11:17across the aisle
11:18in the interest
11:19of all
11:20of the people
11:22of the Republic
11:23of Trinidad
11:25and Tobago.
11:27The six opposition
11:27PNM senators
11:28are
11:29Faris Al-Rawi,
11:31Foster Cummings,
11:32Vishnu Danpol,
11:33Janelle John-Bates,
11:35Melanie Roberts-Rajman,
11:37and Dr. Amory Brown.
11:38I serve notice,
11:40Mr. President,
11:42that this opposition
11:43understands its role
11:46under the Constitution
11:47and we will engage
11:49vigorously
11:50and firmly
11:52in the pursuit
11:55of our responsibilities
11:58as opposition senators.
12:01In so doing,
12:03we will ensure
12:04that we do our part
12:06in maintaining
12:08and elevating
12:10the standard
12:11in this,
12:13the upper house.
12:14The independent bench
12:15is comprised
12:16of nine senators.
12:18Alicia Pauline-Lelit-Etienne
12:20makes history
12:21as the first
12:21visually impaired person
12:23to sit in the Senate.
12:25The other independent senators
12:26are
12:26Dr. Marley Nats,
12:28Senior Counsel
12:29Michael de la Bastide,
12:31Candish June Simmons,
12:33Francis Lewis,
12:34Dr. Desiree Murray,
12:36Courtney McNish,
12:37and returning senators
12:39Diorup Tamal
12:40and Senior Counsel
12:42Anthony Vieira.
12:44To the new administration,
12:46we extend
12:47heartiest congratulations.
12:48We urge you
12:50to be bold
12:51in vision,
12:53measured in action,
12:55and mindful
12:56always
12:57that trust
12:58is earned,
12:59not assumed.
13:01Let us work together
13:02to uplift
13:05our republic,
13:07strengthen
13:07our institutions,
13:09and to meet
13:09the challenges
13:10of this time.
13:12There is no word yet
13:13as to when
13:13the second sitting
13:14will take place.
13:15This house
13:16now stands
13:18adjourned
13:19to a date
13:20to be fixed.
13:21All in favor,
13:23say aye.
13:23Aye.
13:24Any against
13:25say no.
13:27The ayes
13:27have it.
13:29This house
13:29now stands
13:31adjourned
13:32to a date
13:33to be fixed.
13:34Meantime,
13:35President Christine
13:36Kangaloo
13:37presented a
13:37five-item wish list
13:39at the opening
13:40of the 13th
13:40Parliament
13:41and expressed
13:42optimism
13:43now that
13:43three women
13:44sit at the
13:45helm of
13:45Ornishan.
13:47President Christine
13:48Kangaloo
13:49congratulates
13:50the government
13:50for the
13:51resounding
13:51majority
13:51they managed
13:52to secure
13:53in the
13:532025
13:53general election,
13:55calling on
13:55them to use
13:56it well
13:56for the benefit
13:57of the country.
13:58She believes
13:59the fact
13:59that three
13:59women,
14:00namely
14:01Prime Minister
14:01Kamala
14:01Passat-Bissessa,
14:03opposition leader
14:04Penelope
14:04Beckles-Robinson
14:05and herself,
14:06historically
14:06sitting in
14:07the top
14:07leadership positions
14:08in the Parliament
14:09might be a sign
14:10of what the
14:11public is
14:11looking forward
14:12to.
14:12Might well
14:13be speaking
14:14to a deeper
14:15national union
14:16for all of us
14:18to show
14:18greater kindness
14:19and grace
14:20to one another
14:20and to the
14:21hope that
14:22female leadership
14:23at this time
14:24might well
14:25be an important
14:26impetus
14:27in getting us
14:28there.
14:29With female
14:30leadership
14:31manifesting itself
14:32in this way
14:33in the Parliament,
14:35the country's
14:35hopes are
14:36understandably
14:37high for a
14:37Parliament
14:38and for a
14:39system of
14:40government
14:40that functions
14:41more collaboratively
14:43and embracingly
14:44and with less
14:45of the bitterness
14:46and hostility
14:47than we have
14:48sometimes seen
14:48in the past.
14:50I think we
14:51should be careful
14:52not to disappoint
14:53that hope.
14:54And as such,
14:55she calls for
14:56the inclusivity
14:56that has been
14:57stated by both
14:58the Prime Minister
14:59and opposition
15:00leader to be
15:01more than an
15:02aspiration
15:02and instead
15:03a reality.
15:04During the
15:05previous
15:05parliamentary
15:05opening,
15:06President Kangaloo
15:07spoke on the
15:08issue of crime
15:08and called
15:09for it to be
15:10addressed through
15:11collaboration and
15:12putting aside
15:12of political
15:13rivalry in this
15:14area.
15:15I renew that
15:16call today
15:16with even
15:17greater urgency
15:18but with
15:19greater hope
15:20in light of
15:21the initial
15:22signals from
15:23the leadership
15:23of both the
15:24government
15:24and the
15:25opposition
15:25that we
15:27might well
15:28be at the
15:28start of a
15:29parliament
15:29in which
15:30there is the
15:31chance of
15:31more meaningful
15:32collaboration
15:33than before.
15:34She states
15:35that this
15:36is also
15:36vital in
15:37getting the
15:37economy to
15:38blossom.
15:39President
15:39Kangaloo has
15:40also put
15:41forward her
15:41wish list.
15:42At the top
15:42of that,
15:43the hope
15:44that this
15:44country can
15:45lead the
15:45way for
15:45the region
15:46in artificial
15:47intelligence
15:47regulation
15:48as she makes
15:49mention of
15:49the serious
15:50risks attached
15:51to not
15:52doing so.
15:53AI can pose
15:54a variety
15:54of social
15:55and economic
15:56risks.
15:57These include
15:58displacing
15:58large segments
15:59of the
16:00workforce,
16:01concentrating
16:01economic
16:02power in
16:03the hands
16:03of a few
16:04dominant
16:04players and
16:05exacerbating
16:06inequality.
16:08Second on
16:08her wish list
16:09is for
16:10legislation to
16:10implement
16:11enduring
16:11powers of
16:12attorney.
16:13She explains
16:13that when
16:14people begin
16:14to exhibit
16:15symptoms of
16:16illnesses such
16:16as Alzheimer's,
16:18the power of
16:18attorney ceases,
16:19forcing relatives
16:20to go through
16:21a tedious and
16:22expensive process
16:23to be able to
16:24act on behalf
16:24of the family
16:25member.
16:26Enduring powers
16:26of attorney will
16:27continue to be
16:28valid in those
16:29cases once
16:30implemented.
16:30The president
16:31also calls for
16:32what she says
16:33is badly
16:33needed legislation
16:34to better the
16:35lives of people
16:36with disabilities.
16:37President Kangaloo
16:38also lends her
16:39voice to
16:40discourse on
16:41the government's
16:41intention to
16:42dismantle the
16:43demerit point
16:44system.
16:45Demerit point
16:46systems in
16:47general have
16:48the goal of
16:49safeguarding
16:50road users.
16:52Road accidents
16:54cause death
16:55and disabilities.
16:56They also
16:57cause unbearable
16:58mental anguish
16:59and long-lasting
17:01trauma.
17:02Kangaloo shares
17:03that her only
17:03sister was killed
17:04in a road traffic
17:05accident in 1993
17:06and then in 2012
17:08her brother,
17:09acting Chief Justice
17:10Wendell Kangaloo
17:11was in a road
17:12traffic accident
17:13where he was
17:14critically injured.
17:15He succumbed to
17:15his injuries in 2013.
17:17It can happen to
17:18any of us.
17:20I therefore plead
17:21with Parliament
17:21that whatever is done
17:23in this area,
17:25Parliament commits
17:26to ensuring enhanced
17:27safety on our
17:28nation's roads and
17:30to reducing road
17:31fatalities and
17:32related injuries.
17:34And finally,
17:35President Kangaloo
17:35calls on the
17:36government to
17:36consider amending
17:37the legislation
17:38that governs the
17:39operations of the
17:40service commissions.
17:42As the 13th
17:43Parliament opened,
17:44Attorney at Lord
17:45Jagdao Singh was
17:46sworn in as the
17:47new Speaker of the
17:47House of Representatives
17:48while Dr. Aina Ali
17:50is the new Deputy
17:52Speaker of the
17:53House.
17:53Alicia Boucher,
17:54TV6 News.
17:58This is the past
18:00seven days on six.
18:09Also happening
18:10these past seven days
18:12on six, the Prime
18:14Minister called on
18:14the former Finance
18:15Minister to say
18:17where the money has
18:18gone, noting that
18:19from February 29th of
18:21last year to May of
18:22this year, $135 million
18:25has been collected in
18:26property tax.
18:28A total of $135
18:30million in property
18:34tax collected,
18:36$135.6 million
18:39collected.
18:40Again, I said I warn
18:41people, don't pay it.
18:43You decide to pay it,
18:44that is on you.
18:46The last government
18:47collected this property
18:48tax.
18:48Today I want to ask
18:49Faris Alwari and
18:52others in that
18:53government, what did
18:53you do with the
18:55money you collected
18:56for the property
18:57tax?
18:58What have you done
18:59with the millions
19:00that you collected
19:01from property tax?
19:04They need to give us
19:05an account of what
19:06they did with that
19:07money.
19:08Well, in response,
19:09former Finance
19:10Minister Carl
19:11Minbert labeled the
19:12query senseless and
19:14explained that all
19:15the monies had gone
19:16directly to the
19:17consolidated fund.
19:18bus route.
19:19But the Prime Minister
19:20did not stop there.
19:21She also bust some
19:23marks, revealing that
19:24625 private letter
19:27priority bus route
19:28passes had been
19:29approved under the
19:30former PNM-led
19:31government.
19:32The government has
19:33not recalled all the
19:34passes.
19:35These are private
19:37letter passes that
19:38the minister
19:38sign a piece of
19:41paper and give it
19:41to you.
19:43And when you get it,
19:44it costs the state
19:45money to give you
19:46this pass to use
19:47the bus route.
19:48I'll continue on that.
19:49No, it's 625.
19:51Many of these have
19:52been issued without
19:53proper documentation.
19:55In some cases, we
19:57don't even have the
19:58names.
19:59We don't even have
19:59license plate numbers.
20:01We don't have
20:02position or titles.
20:03We don't have
20:04affiliated agencies.
20:06In many instances,
20:08some people get more
20:09than one of these
20:09special passes, more
20:10than one.
20:12So when you give
20:13the husband, you give
20:13the wife and the
20:14children.
20:15Those are family
20:16business, friends and
20:17family.
20:19All these letter
20:20passes, we will
20:22recall them.
20:23They will all, 625,
20:25will be recalled.
20:28And persons can
20:29then reapply,
20:30minister, is that
20:30the plan?
20:31Yeah, persons can
20:32reapply and let's
20:33see your criteria
20:34and why you get
20:34it.
20:35While maxi-taxi
20:37operators are
20:38supporting the
20:38prime minister's
20:39decision to
20:41curtail use of
20:42the priority bus
20:43route.
20:44Speaking to TV6
20:45via telephone,
20:46president of the
20:47route to maxi-taxi
20:48association,
20:49Brenton Knight,
20:50said he welcomes
20:52the prime minister's
20:52decision to revoke
20:53the bus route
20:54passes, adding she
20:55is well within her
20:56rights to do so if
20:57the passes were
20:58distributed without
20:59proper documentation.
21:01Knight said for
21:02too long, his
21:03association has
21:04expressed concerns
21:05over unauthorized
21:06vehicles on the
21:07PBR, adding if
21:09data shows improper
21:10pass usage
21:10contributes to
21:11traffic congestion
21:12on the restricted
21:13access roadway,
21:14then decisive action
21:15is necessary.
21:16My talk on it
21:18to the time I have
21:19run in Washington
21:21has always been
21:21a critical football.
21:23The particular
21:24run at the
21:24street future
21:25has attained
21:26the frozen
21:27negative
21:27vehicles.
21:27management in terms
21:30of the bus
21:31and we have to
21:34ensure that they
21:35don't have to
21:36record it because
21:37of that special
21:37rule and the purpose
21:39of it for mass
21:40transportation.
21:42We have maxi-taxi
21:43for the natural
21:44category and we have
21:45a limited amount
21:46to safety and that
21:48is managed by
21:49the industry.
21:49He raised several
21:51concerns about the
21:52PBR, but the main
21:53one was road safety.
21:54He questioned
21:55the training of
21:56some private drivers
21:57compared it to
21:58professional maxi-taxi
21:59operators.
22:00We adhere to certain
22:03terms and conditions
22:04to be on the bus
22:05and we want
22:06to be able to do
22:08a defensive driving
22:09course.
22:10Obviously, we would
22:11like to see other
22:12people who have
22:13use of the bus
22:14and make sure
22:15that they get
22:16to do a defensive
22:17course.
22:17Because the bus
22:18is a very unique
22:20place, although
22:21the speeds are not
22:22like the highway
22:23of 100 and so
22:24cross.
22:25But the amount
22:25of activities
22:26take place
22:27on the bus
22:28simultaneously
22:29in terms of
22:30people pulling
22:31out, pulling
22:31aside to drop
22:33off people,
22:35pulling out,
22:36people crossing,
22:38people coming
22:38to stop a maxi,
22:40protecting service,
22:41putting on a
22:42siren and
22:42other emergencies,
22:45the ambulance
22:46and the law
22:47enforcement.
22:48There's a lot
22:48of activities
22:49take place
22:50simultaneously
22:51on the bus
22:52and there's
22:54a particular
22:55place to be
22:56in the sense
22:57that you must
22:58have an understanding
22:59of what takes
23:00place on the bus
23:01On Thursday,
23:03in a post-Cabinet
23:04briefing,
23:04Prime Minister
23:05Kamala Passat-Bissessa
23:06criticized the
23:07former administration
23:08for what she
23:09described as
23:10indiscriminate
23:11distribution of
23:12letter passes
23:12for the PBR.
23:14She said,
23:14in some instances
23:15the passes
23:16were handed out
23:17without required
23:18paperwork and
23:19in many cases
23:20one household
23:21received several
23:22passes,
23:23husband, wife
23:24and even
23:24children.
23:26Charlotte Kisto,
23:27TV6 News.
23:29In more news,
23:30former Prime Minister
23:31Dr. Keith Rowley
23:32responded to claims
23:33that he did not
23:34facilitate requests
23:35for an interview
23:36by a Daily Mail
23:37UK journalist
23:38on the topic
23:39of the February
23:402022
23:41Paria diving
23:42tragedy.
23:43The incident
23:43and the events
23:44that followed
23:45have been produced
23:46into a six-part
23:47podcast series
23:48which is now
23:49available on
23:50major streaming
23:51platforms.
23:53Five divers
23:53were forced
23:54into a terrifying
23:55fight for survival
23:56when they got
23:57sucked into an
23:58oil pipe
23:58only 30 inches
24:00wide and dragged
24:01hundreds of feet
24:03to the bottom
24:03of the ocean.
24:05The horroring
24:05story of the
24:06Paria diving
24:07tragedy is now
24:08available on
24:09various streaming
24:10platforms for
24:10all the world
24:11to see.
24:13Pipeline Left
24:14to Die
24:14is a six-part
24:15investigative series
24:16by the Daily
24:17Mail UK
24:18detailing the
24:19circumstances
24:20surrounding and
24:21following the
24:22incident which
24:23resulted in the
24:24deaths of
24:24Rishi Nagasar,
24:26Faisal Kirban,
24:27Kazim Ali Jr
24:28and Yusuf Henry.
24:30Christopher
24:30Boudram,
24:31the lone survivor,
24:32gives his
24:33testimony in the
24:33podcast.
24:34I can't see
24:36for the world
24:37I can't really
24:38feel the
24:40extended damages
24:41that I have.
24:42So I started
24:42trying to pull
24:43myself forward.
24:45I couldn't
24:45sit 90 degrees
24:47in the pipe.
24:48To me that was
24:49hell.
24:50Journalist
24:50Isabel Stanley
24:52and her team
24:52visited Trinidad
24:53in February this
24:54year and began
24:55documenting the
24:57events.
24:58According to the
24:58local Express
24:59newspaper, the
25:00Daily Mail UK
25:01team was unable
25:02to secure
25:03interviews with
25:04former Prime
25:04Minister Dr.
25:05Keith Rowley
25:06and then
25:07Energy Minister
25:08Stuart Young.
25:10But via
25:10Facebook post
25:11today, Dr.
25:12Rowley raised
25:13an alarm over
25:14the report,
25:15stating that the
25:15implication is
25:16that he was
25:17asked but did
25:18not respond to
25:19questions from
25:20the reporter.
25:21In the post,
25:22Dr. Rowley shows
25:23a copy of the
25:24letter sent to
25:24him by Daily
25:25Mail, which he
25:26notes contained
25:27quote, a
25:28series of
25:29questions and
25:30allegations.
25:31Excerts of the
25:32correspondence read,
25:33you never
25:34compensated the
25:35victims'
25:36families.
25:37You did not
25:37take action to
25:38discipline or
25:39remove senior
25:40paria personnel.
25:42And how do you
25:43respond to claims
25:44that you appointed
25:45your friends into
25:46positions of power
25:47within the energy
25:48sector?
25:49Former Prime
25:50Minister Dr.
25:51Rowley also
25:51attached a copy of
25:52his response,
25:53which he says was
25:54sent six days later
25:56on May 8th.
25:57In his response,
25:58he expresses sadness
25:59over the tragic
26:00deaths and provides
26:02a timeline of the
26:03events which
26:04occurred in the
26:04wake of the
26:05incidents, including
26:06the fact that an
26:08independent commission
26:09of inquiry was
26:10held.
26:11Dr. Rowley's
26:11correspondence for
26:12the states that
26:13paria had been
26:14attempting to
26:15achieve a fair and
26:16equitable resolution,
26:18but that LMCS has
26:19quote, been reluctant
26:21to engage in
26:22discussions and has
26:23not made the
26:24required critical
26:25disclosures needed
26:26by paria's insurers
26:27to determine
26:28compensation,
26:30end quote.
26:30Dr. Rowley goes
26:32on to say that
26:33notwithstanding the
26:34delays, on April
26:353rd, 2025, the
26:37government announced
26:38that it will make an
26:39ex-grasher payment of
26:40$1 million to the
26:42lone survivor and to
26:44each of the families
26:45of the four victims,
26:47which he says must not
26:48be construed as an
26:49admission of liability,
26:51noting that it is an
26:53ongoing legal matter.
26:54However, the newly
26:55sworn in government has
26:57since indicated that the
26:58matter of compensation
26:59would be best determined
27:01by a judicial
27:02conference.
27:03It has been three years
27:04since the five LMCS
27:06divers were sucked into
27:07the pipeline on February
27:0925th, 2022.
27:12Sport is up next.
27:13Keep it here.
27:21In sport, it was a sad
27:23day for the Windy's
27:24women who surrendered
27:26their three-match T20
27:27series to England last
27:29week when they fell to
27:30the feet in game two of
27:32the three-match series.
27:34Having lost the opener,
27:36it was do or die for the
27:37West Indies who were put
27:38in a bat by England in
27:39the second women's T20
27:40international in Hove.
27:43Openers Kiana Joseph and
27:45captain Haley Matthews
27:46were dismissed cheaply.
27:50Emily Arlett took three
27:51for 14, including the
27:52record of former skipper
27:53Stefanie Taylor for a duck.
27:54Stefanie Taylor back in the
27:56side, she couldn't find the
27:57gap.
27:58Shemaine Campbell with 26 and
27:59Shabika Gajnabi, 22, were
28:01the only ones to register
28:02double figures.
28:03Use of the crease.
28:05Boundaries have been scarce
28:06of late.
28:07Charlie Dean was also
28:08frugal with two for 12 from
28:09her four overs.
28:11Again, Charlie Dean's having
28:12a night out, that's for sure.
28:14Medium pacer Lauren Bell too
28:15could not be left out.
28:16There it goes.
28:17Is there an edge?
28:18It sounded like there was an
28:19edge.
28:20And there was.
28:20She picked up three as West
28:22Indies were restricted to 81
28:24for nine from 20 overs.
28:25Gone up a decent height.
28:27Yeah, simply delighting.
28:28When England responded,
28:30Danny Wyatt Hodge was bowled
28:31by Zeta James for a golden
28:32duck.
28:33Would you believe it?
28:36Danny Wyatt Hodge.
28:37But Sophia Dunkley and
28:38captain Natsibab Brant would
28:39come together to get a job
28:41done.
28:41Because that is beautifully
28:43timed.
28:45They made light work of the
28:46chase, but the visitors
28:47unable to dislodge the pair.
28:49Not quite, but nearly
28:50crofty.
28:51You should be a coach.
28:53Dunkley, who hit a half
28:54century in the first game,
28:56was unbeaten on 24.
29:01And Siver Brant made 55
29:03not out of 30 balls.
29:05England reached 82 for one
29:06in 9.2 overs to win by nine
29:09wickets to clinch the series
29:10with one game remaining.
29:13And that's a wrap on the
29:18past seven days on six.
29:20I am Renessa cutting.
29:21If you didn't catch this
29:22segment in its entirety,
29:24you can find it on our
29:25website, www.tv6tnt.com.
29:30And you can find all these
29:31stories and more on the TV6
29:34mobile app.
29:35Thanks for choosing TV6 and
29:36do have a great evening.
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