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ATTORNEYS representing families of the four drowning victims as well as the lone survivor of the Paria diving tragedy, have welcomed government's announcement of a $1 million ex-gratia payment to each family and the survivor.

However, both head of Freedom Law Chambers Anand Ramlogan, SC, and attorney Prakash Ramadhar criticised this as a belated announcement coming mere weeks before the general election.

"It is unfortunate that it took a general election for the government to tap into its conscience and demonstrate some modicum of human compassion in the face of a case that has been crying out for justice for the last three years," a statement from Ramlogan said.