The families of the four divers who died in the 2022 Paria pipeline tragedy, along with the lone survivor, Christopher Boodram, will each been awarded $1 million in ex-gratia payments.

The announcement was made Thursday afternoon at the Diplomatic Centre in Port of Spain, after Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar met with three of ,the families.

Energy Minister Dr Roodal Moonilal, speaking at a post-Cabinet press conference, described the divers’ deaths as “slow, painful and terrifying deaths that was compounded by the callous inaction of the then leadership, and shocking absence of urgency.”