Fishermen based along the oil-spilled affected southwestern coastline are demanding an urgent meeting with Energy Minister Kevin Ramnarine and officials of the state-owned oil and gas company, Petrotrin, to discuss the issue of compensation.They are also calling for an immediate halt to all planned seismic testing in La Brea that is scheduled to be begin today.
Alvin La Borde, president of the La Brea Fisherfolk Association, called for Petrotrin and Ramnarine to meet with the fishermen at 9 am today.He said fishermen are not prepared to accept any "ex gratia" (by favour) payments."We need to get some answers and we need to deal with the compensation package we are asking for. Nobody has come to an agreement on that compensation package," he said.
La Borde said fishermen in Icacos and Fullerton were paid some $1,500 and $1,200 a day in compensation. However, he said, La Brea fishermen and fisherfolk from other affected areas are not prepared to accept such low sums.Yesterday various fisherfolk associations, spanning from Claxton Bay to the Icacos/Cedros, gathered at Coffee Beach, La Brea, to discuss the impact of the oil spill on the nation's fishing stock and the planned seismic testing.
Secretary of Fishermen and Friends of the Sea (FFOS) Gary Aboud, speaking with the T&T Guardian, said it was illogical for Petrotrin to conduct seismic testing in La Brea."Yesterday's (Sunday) newspaper had an advertisement saying they will be starting seismic testing on or before December 31. Seismic ships are already in the location. They are very unreasonable. They are doing seismic testing in the same area that we have a massive oil spill," he lamented.
More oil woes
Otaheite Bay fishermen are also calling for compensation since they say their fishing and shrimping grounds in Rousillac have been devastated by the oil spill.The fishermen say they are being neglected and are not being told what would happen with their fishing grounds.Yesterday the fishermen took journalists, cameramen and photographers on a boat tour of the oil-spill stained shoreline from Otaheite to La Brea.
They pointed out that the nesting grounds of Scarlet Ibis, one of this country's national birds, at Aripero Wetlands and Dow Mangrove are being severely affected by the oil spill.Fisherman Balram Norman Ramkharan, 36, said the area was one of the richest areas for shrimp and fish and since the spill Otaheite fishermen had been unable to earn a living.
"Nobody come to us and telling us about compensation. The oil affecting us here too. You seeing the oil thick on the sand and they not doing nothing. They cleaning La Brea," he added.Yesterday a fishing crew showed the media their miserable catch for the day, which consisted of dead fish and shrimp covered with oil.Energy Minister Kevin Ramnarine, speaking with reporters during a tour of clean-up operations at Point Saube, La Brea, said the issue of compensation and the social impact of the oil spill would be addressed.
"We understand the concerns of the fishermen but we have to proceed with this is a structured manner. We are dealing with public monies here."We are not dealing with my money or your money we are dealing with the people's money so we have to do it is a very structured and a very systematic way," he said.