PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC—The Trinidad and Tobago government said that on Monday, it secured international compensation for the ongoing oil spill cleanup in Tobago. Early estimates put the damage at as much as US$20 million.
“The information we have retained from Central Government and the Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries, we can be looking at anywhere from 14 to 20 million US dollars, and that’s our best estimate at this stage, and of course, in Tobago, they too via the THA (Tobago House of Assembly) would be incurring certain costs that ultimately will come to Central Government and we will do an exercise along with the Ministry of Finance…to see what those costs that have been out forward…are reasonable for us to deal with”.
Speaking at a news conference, energy and Energy Industries Minister Stuart Young said that the payment’s monetary size is yet to be ascertained. Still, that reparation was made possible following contributions Port of Spain had made to the International Oil Pollution Compensation Fund (IOPCF) for several years. Watch video
The hydrocarbon spill, first spotted off the coast of Tobago’s Atlantic Coast on February 7 this year, has damaged some of the island’s mangroves and threatened its tourism and fishing sector.
The oil spill also entered the Caribbean Sea, threatening Venezuela and neighboring countries, including the Dutch island of Bonaire.
“We know at this stage…that the ship that was being used as a barge to transport this fuel was being pulled along at certain times by a tug. We’ve heard the name ‘Gulf Stream,’ the last name seen on this vessel that overturned in Tobago. We’ve also seen documentation suggesting that the tug carrying it along during this journey is called the ‘Solo Creed.’ We’ve also been provided with documentation that suggests changes of names,” Young told reporters, adding that the decision to seek compensation was made on April 29th.
“I am pleased to advise that the decisions coming out of the submissions we made are as follows: The992 Fund executive committee decided that civil liliabilitynd fund conventions would apply to this incident, and they immediately authorized the director to make payments of compensation in respect of claims arising om this incident.
“We have given an assurance to the Fund that we will continue to work with them to try and locate the owner of these vessels and those who are responsible for it (oil spill) and that if we can pursue any claims, then subrogate those claims to IOPCF for all reasonable claims made will be compensated by this fund.”
Young told reporters that the vessel was on its way to Guyana when the incident occurred and that the Trinidad and Tobago government remains committed to finding the owners.
He said that at this stage, it looked as though the vessel had picked up products in Venezuela and that, from the document I have seen …the ship was on its way to Guyana.
“We have from the authorities in Guyana a request…for pilots to come and assist them into Guyana during the period when it actually turned up on the shores in Tobago. We are pursuing all the leads that we have, and we have been receiving assistance from the United States and the Canadian government.”
Through the Ministry of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs, the government has requested official assistance from countries – including Tanzania, Nigeria, Panama, Aruba, and Curacao – in tracing the owners of the vessels.
Download video – T&T Minister of Energy & Energy Industries – Stuart Young
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