CONGRESS of the People (COP) political leader Prakash Ramadhar unofficially aligned himself with the Opposition UNC and members of its "coalition of interests" in condemning the government on the Paria diving tragedy.

On February 25, 2022, Christopher Boodram, Rishi Nagassar, Fyzal Kurban, Yusuf Henry and Kazim Ali Jnr, were repairing a 30-inch pipeline at Paria’s Pointe-a-Pierre facility when they were sucked into it.

Only Boodram managed to get out alive.

Ramadhar, who is the attorney for Henry's family, also said he planned to seek more than the $5 billion in compensation to the divers' families he initially proposed, should the matter go to court.

He made these comments at a rally at Pointe-a-Pierre roundabout on February 22.

The UNC was represented by MPs David Lee, Rudranath Indarsingh and Ravi Ratiram; senator Wade Mark, party PRO Dr Kirk Meighoo and candidates Michael Dowlath and John Michael Alibocus.

Also present were Progressive Empowerment Party (PEP) leader Phillip Edward Alexander and members of the Oilfields Workers' Trade Union (OWTU).

The PEP, Laventille Outreach for Vertical Enrichment (LOVE) and some members of the Joint Trade Union Movement (JTUM) are members of the UNC's coalition of interests. The OWTU is a member of JTUM.

Ramadhar identified Alexander as "my friend" and "my client."

He said while some people may not like what Alexander says, "the message is real."

Ramadhar said the tragedy shook him to the core.

"That brought something deep within me. An anger that could happen in a modern society. Who gave them (Paria) the right to allow those men to die?"

Ramadhar said, "As far as I am concerned, Paria's concern was more about liability than lives."

He identified Lee, Indarsingh and Ratiram as his "brothers."

Ramadhar thanked the OWTU for advocating on behalf of the divers' families.

He said, "We are being played as a people with propaganda."

Ramadhar added the tragedy convinced him to return to active politics again.

He recalled his intention to seek $5 million for each of the families of divers killed in the tragedy.

While that action has not been filed yet, Ramadhar said, "When we do file. If they think $5 million I will ask for is unreasonable, wait and see."

He hinted more could be sought from Paria.

Ramadhar said, "It will include not just the physical loss. It will include not just the loss of earnings. But the most important thing to me is the emotional destruction of families and our nation. You cannot put a real number on that."

He warned he was prepared to go to the Privy Council in London if Paria did not accept the terms of the settlement.

Ramadhar repeated, "This is not a matter for the lawyers. This is a matter for the government."

He said as part of the former Kamla Persad-Bissessar cabinet (2010-2015), that cabinet would directly address matters such as this and look after the bureaucracy later.

The government appointed a Commission of Enquiry to investigate the Paria incident but its report found there was not a strong enou