SCARBOROUGH, Tobago, CMC – Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley says Trinidad and Tobago expects to receive “a significant sum” in compensation for the ongoing oil spill clean-up in Tobago.
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 sectors.
During the “Conversations with the Prime Minister” public program on Thursday night, Rowley said that the oil spill had occurred because of the activities of “people who did not want others to know that they were involved in what was happening there.
“The ocean is a huge place, and a lot of things go on there, and that’s why an international body exists to come to a country’s aid if you find yourself being damaged by an oil spill of that nature or similar nature.” Watch video
Rowley did not name the international agency, but earlier this month, Energy and Energy Industries Minister Stuart Young said Port of Spain had presented to the UK-based International Oil Pollution Compensation Fund (IOPCF) for compensation ranging from US$14 million to US$20 million.
“What we have done so far is that we have appeared before that body. We have made the case. It has been accepted that we qualify for assistance and that program to get to the point of what we get, how much we get (and) that is actively on the way.”
Rowley told the audience that representatives from the agency were in Trinidad and Tobago “a few days ago, and only yesterday morning did the Cabinet approve for the requisite officer from Trinidad and Tobago to travel to their headquarters to continue these discussions.
“I think we started out claiming an estimated US$30 million…because we don’t know the final figure as yet…that has since been reduced to the last figure I saw, about US$23 million, and when all is said and done, we know the actual expenses, we will know what the figure is.
“But we are there making a claim and have a good reception. So how much we don’t know yet, but the order will not be an insignificant sum,” Rowley said, adding that much of the money received will go towards reimbursing the various agencies as well as the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) for their participation in their clean up exercise.
“The apportionment will be done by bills being shown to the agency. So we are there, and we expect significant involvement of that agency,” he added.
Trinidad and Tobago has yet to definitively identify the vessel or owners involved in the oil spill that also entered the Caribbean Sea, threatening Venezuela and other neighboring countries, including the Dutch island of Bonaire.
Meanwhile, in a statement, the Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries said the Government continues to utilize all resources at its disposal to attempt to ascertain and locate those responsible for the oil spill in Tobago.
“The Government has received information that the tug ‘Solo Creed’ may have been detained by authorities in Angola,” the statement said, adding that the Government has “requested that official correspondence be sent via the Ministry of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs and the Maritime Services Division of the Ministry of Works and Transport to Angolan authorities to verify certain information that has come to hand.
“The Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard is also assisting in the exercise to verify the ‘Solo Creed’ location. The Government is committed to continuing its pursuit of those responsible for the oil spill in Tobago and will keep the public informed of material developments,” the statement said.
Through its Ministry of Foreign and Caricom Affairs, Trinidad has requested official assistance from various countries, including Tanzania, Nigeria, Panama, Aruba, and Curacao, to trace the owners of the vessels.
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