The appointment of former Petrotrin executive chairman Malcolm Jones as part of a cabinet-appointed Standing Committee on Energy is causing a stir within the Oilfields Workers' Trade Union (OWTU).
During an interview yesterday, OWTU's president general Ancel Roget described Jones as a poor manager who took the wrong approach when he headed Petrotrin under the Patrick Manning administration.
Asked to comment on the appointment of Jones and former UTT chairman Professor Ken Julien to the committee, Roget said he could not speak about Julien's competence. However, he said Jones left a bitter taste in the mouths of workers.
"He was part of the neglect of all the exploration and production fields in Petrotrin. At level of a cabinet-appointed committee, maybe he can perform, I don't know. It is left to be seen. Jones was part responsible for Petrotrin's drilling programmes being reduced under his stewardship. He was responsible for creating an anti-union posture in Petrotrin."
Roget also called on the Government to reveal the mandate and objective of the committee. "What are the terms of reference? We want to know what they are about." Roget said if the committee planned to look at the state's energy assets and how they could be better utilised, then the OWTU should be part of all consultations.
"Whether or not it is outside of the committee it doesn't matter because such a venture needs the active value input of the OWTU," Roget added. He said the OWTU had developed a blueprint for the overall restructuring of Petrotrin.
"The company continues to go downhill. There is no proper structure for accountability and transparency. Something needs to be done about the current position of state enterprises. That is our major revenue earning streams and they have to be operated in a viable manner with the input of workers," Roget said.
Meanwhile, Manning yesterday declined comment on the appointment of Jones and Julien, both of whom he was very close to during his tenure.
"I am out of politics. I have nothing to say about their appointment," Manning said.
Former energy minister Kevin Ramnarine was also unavailable for comment as calls to his cellular phone went unanswered. President of the Energy Chamber Thackwray Driver was engaged in meetings yesterday and did not respond to calls.
The committee set up to address energy-related issues will be chaired by Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley. Other members of the committee are Finance Minister Colm Imbert; Planning Minister Camille Robinson-Regis; Energy Minister Nicole Olivierre; Public Utilities Minister, retired brigadier Ancil Antoine; Trade and Industry Minister Paula Gopee-Scoon; Minister in the Ministry of the Attorney General Stuart Young; Tobago House of Assembly Chief Secretary Orville London; Petrotrin chairman Andrew Jupiter; National Gas Company chairman Gerry Brooks: T&TEC chairman Keith Sirju and industrial engineer Steve Gardner.