The revelation by the country's largest natural gas producer that it is forecasting lower production must be of great worry for the entire country.
The T&T economy has for decades relied not just on energy production but increasingly on natural gas and its derivatives.
T&T has built a powerful natural gas sector with major global players in both the upstream and petrochemical sides of the business and with the National Gas Company as one of the most profitable state enterprises.
It was in 1995 that the government of the late Patrick Manning took what would turn out to be one of the most consequential decisions in the country's modern economic history, and introduced an LNG industry into T&T.
From the time the first LNG train came into being, to the start-up of the other LNG plants, it is clear that the country's Gross Domestic Product grew significantly. It is fair to say that natural gas allowed this country to be the most prosperous it has been in its history.
We had our longest consecutive years of unbroken growth in the economy. We achieved full employment for the first time in the country's history and Government's revenues are the highest it has ever been.
The gas boom has been more economically rewarding for the country in part because it is more sustainable, more diversified and the prices and volumes exceed what was produced in the 1970s.
Driving LNG production, petrochemicals and, therefore, Government revenue, is natural gas production.
bpTT has been and continues to operate as the country's largest supplier of natural gas. From the advent of Train 4, it has consistently produced over two billion standard cubic feet of natural gas per day.
With its recent failed infill drilling programme and relatively small-sized discoveries, the company is this year producing significantly less than it did last year and from its projections, is unlikely to return to those halcyon days of 2bcf/d.
This is a forecast position and things can change. Furthermore, there are other players like Royal Dutch Shell, BHP, Touchstone, EOG and even DeNovo, who can all make a difference in this natural gas story.
Shortage of the commodity puts not just LNG production at risk but also petrochemicals and thousands of jobs. It also puts at risk our very standard of living.
We must remember that it is not just the production of natural gas, but there are scores of companies that provided from logistics to skilled workers, to transportation, food and even accommodation to bpTT.
A strong bpTT is in the country's best interest and we have a right to know what is the state of its operations and how it may impact us as a country and society.
In a release yesterday, bpTT said it was concerned that its forecast ended up in this newspaper. Surely, the company must know this is a public interest matter and that the natural gas it produces is owned by the people of T&T, who have a right to know the challenges facing its continued well-being.
As a country, we must move with dispatch to diversify even more, our sources of natural gas supplies, as we must similarly move with alacrity to diversify our economy away from energy.