Pipeline Podcast - Episode 5: Oil Nation
Host: Isabelle Stanley
Release Date: June 12, 2025
Incident Overview
In February 2022, a harrowing tragedy unfolded deep beneath the Caribbean Sea off the coast of Trinidad and Tobago. Four professional divers working for LMCs contracted by Paria were sucked hundreds of feet into an oil pipe, leading to their deaths. This episode of Pipeline delves into the events of that day, unraveling the layers of negligence, systemic failures, and lingering questions surrounding the incident.
Christopher Boodram, a survivor of a prior near-accident, recounts the fateful day:
"As soon as I saw that, I just saw the guys fire and just dove off the jetty as soon as far down to the bottom as I could and stay as long as I could because I was expecting an explosion."
[00:54 - 01:38]
Background Stories: A Pattern of Negligence
Before the tragic event, an incident in December 2021 almost claimed the same divers' lives. Christopher describes a near-miss where an accidental electrical shock and ensuing fire left them trembling:
"We shaken, we frightened, right? This nearly kill us. We actually trembling from this."
[02:48 - 03:01]
Despite the severity, Paria officials dismissed the incident without proper investigation:
"We could have died and nobody, nothing, nobody losing the job, nothing."
[03:18 - 04:09]
This recurring negligence hinted that the February tragedy was not an isolated event but part of a broader pattern of systemic failures within the oil industry in Trinidad and Tobago.
Inquiry Findings and Government Response
The national inquiry, led by Jerome Lynch, concluded that Paria's incompetence directly led to the divers' deaths. Lynch recommended corporate manslaughter charges against Paria. However, the response was lackluster:
"In September 2024... Paria and LMCs were charged with breaching the Occupational Health and Safety act, minor charges to which they have all pleaded not guilty. But to date there has been no sign of the corporate manslaughter charge against Paria."
[05:30 - 06:45]
Jerome Lynch expressed confidence in the inquiry's thoroughness, but frustration lingered among the victims' families and the public:
"I thought to my mind, we were as thorough as it was possible to be... you don't have to find every single piece and it doesn't have to go into place in order to come up with the answer."
[09:22 - 09:44]
Public Distrust and Emerging Theories
Public dissatisfaction grew as the inquiry's recommendations remained largely unimplemented. Christopher Boodram and Anand Ramlogan, Christopher's lawyer and former Attorney General, voiced their frustrations:
"The inquiry was a waste of time also."
[07:05 - 07:08]
Amidst calls for accountability, various theories emerged to explain the tragedy beyond mere negligence:
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Business Continuity Over Rescue Efforts:
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Internal communications revealed Paria's focus on resuming operations rather than prioritizing the divers' rescue:
"In the midst of a crisis, while they struggled to coordinate even the most basic rescue efforts, they were focused on preparing a preemptive press release announcing the men's deaths and planning the resumption of their business operations."
[12:16 - 16:41]
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Venezuelan Oil Sanctions Busting:
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Speculation arose linking the tragedy to clandestine oil shipments from Venezuela. However, investigations found no evidence to support this theory:
"We drew a blank. There was no evidence that we could find."
[22:17 - 23:30]
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Political Interference:
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Ansel Roger, president of the oil workers' trade union, suggested that political maneuvering and cronyism led to deteriorating safety standards:
"They played politics instead of ensuring that they maximize the return they can get from these resources for the benefit of the people. And that's where the standards begin to fall."
[28:30 - 30:00]
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Cost-Benefit Calculations on Human Life:
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Anand Ramlogan accused Paria of potentially valuing financial savings over divers' lives:
"I believe the initial belief was that all had perished and that if they had not perished that they would soon perish... it's cheaper to allow someone to die than it is to rescue them broken and maimed."
[17:55 - 18:34]
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Ongoing Tragedies and Industry Malaise
The February 2022 incident was not isolated. The episode highlights similar accidents, such as the December 2024 collapse of a well rig operated by Well Services Petroleum Limited, which resulted in another fatality:
"An accident that took place on 22 December last year... 75 workers could have lost their lives."
[35:09 - 35:59]
Kazim Ali emphasizes the industry's critical importance yet criticizes its decline:
"The oil industry is of critical importance to Trinidad and Tobago because the country depends on the energy sector for its income, its revenue and therefore from inception to now we have still run a one track economy."
[28:30 - 28:48]
Union Decline and Safety Standards
The shutdown of Petrotrin in 2018 led to the fragmentation of the oil sector into smaller, often unregulated entities like Paria. Ansel Roger argues this dismantling weakened union influence and eroded safety standards:
"With no daily standards in the Paria situation there's absolutely no standards."
[31:55 - 32:11]
Moreover, top positions within the new companies were filled by politically connected but unqualified individuals, exacerbating operational inefficiencies and safety lapses:
"He [Newman George] never set foot, he never work, he don't know what... if oil is dripping from his crankcase of his vehicle, he cannot recognize that."
[32:39 - 33:22]
Call for Accountability and Change
As the oil industry continues to suffer from recurrent accidents, stakeholders demand systemic reforms. Ansel Roger and Kazim Ali advocate for restoring union power and enforcing stringent safety standards to prevent future tragedies:
"We make bold to say that... what they did was unqualified... that spells chaos not only for workers but for oil production."
[32:39 - 33:22]
Looking Ahead: Seeking Closure and Justice
Despite the inquiries and public outcry, the affected families and communities remain without closure. Kazim Ali recounts the personal toll of another unresolved accident:
"Nobody knows because why they don't have answers. We have no closure for our brother... We need that closure and we need it sooner than later."
[36:28 - 37:30]
The episode concludes with the anticipation of further investigations and impending political changes, as Trinidad and Tobago approaches national elections amid growing demands for transparency and accountability.
"We need that closure and we need it sooner than later. Next time on Pipeline... we are hoping to ask the Prime Minister a few questions and we end up wrapped up in a national election."
[40:10 - 40:26]
Conclusion
Episode 5 of Pipeline, titled "Oil Nation", provides a comprehensive exploration of the catastrophic safety failures within Trinidad and Tobago's oil industry. Through survivor testimonies, expert analyses, and investigative journalism, the podcast underscores the urgent need for structural reforms to safeguard lives and ensure accountability. The lingering questions and unresolved grief of the families highlight the profound human cost of industrial negligence.
For more information or to support the podcast, contact pipeline@dailymail.com or visit Support Christopher Boodram.