Opposition MP, David Lee is questioning if the Chairman of the Commission of Enquiry into the Paria diving tragedy – King’s Counsel, Jerome Lynch — is paralysing the Commission through delays, in an effort to hide the truth.”
Lee made the statement during a UNC press conference on Sunday.
This follows an extension request made by Lynch recently, for the final report.
Initially, the final report was due in May, but an extension was granted until August 30th.
However, citing a range of issues that need to be ventilated to ensure fairness, Lynch has requested a second extension.
Lee said: “It is unacceptable that justice or at least part of justice has not been delivered for these families.
He said, “Over 550 days ago, on February 25, 2022, our nation witnessed one of the worst national tragedies, one which took the lives of four citizens in the pipeline of State-owned Paria Limited.”
He made it clear, however, that the Opposition was not questioning the competence of the chairman and his commission.
” As a matter of fact, we commend the professionalism and dedicated manner in which the chairman of the Paria Commission of Enquiry King’s Counsel Jerome Lynch and his team executed the commission, but today we are calling on him to give clarity to the people of this nation,” Lee added.
The commission has now asked President Christine Kangaloo for an extension until November 30th.
Lynch had said this was to ensure fairness to everyone “in particular where there are to be criticisms of individuals that may affect their careers and lead to recommendations as to criminal conduct or a potential for the breach of a duty of care.”
The commission has given the parties extra time to provide written responses and is still awaiting some of those responses.