National Petroleum's chief executive Richard Callender has been suspended, pending an investigation by auditors into the company's financials. Energy Minister Carolyn Seepersad-Bachan confirmed the suspension, but said she did not want to comment on the issue because she did not want to prejudice the investigation. For his part, Callender told the T&T Guardian, he was suspended and not fired from the company. He declined to talk to the Guardian about the issue. Callender, along with divisional manager Glen Roberts and distribution manager Claude Job were suspended on Tuesday.
The company's board, chaired by Neil Gosine, raised questions about fuel distribution to gas stations, specifically two stations in south Trinidad. In 2007, Callender, as NP's chief executive, embarked on a $132 million nationwide service station upgrade which was expected to be completed in two years.Plans were on the drawing board for construction of a pipeline from Petrotrin's Pointe-a-Pierre refinery to a tank just south of the Caroni River to service the needs of the East-West Corridor. At board apppointments which fall under her portfolio, Seepersad-Bachan has stated she will not tolerate corruption.