Chief Secretary Farley Augustine says the Tobago House of Assembly is ready to work closely with the Central Government once they find out who owns the tug vessel, Solo Creed, which was involved in the February 7 oil spill. But he believes it may have to claim more for the clean-up effort from an international agency.
On Thursday, Government said it had located the vessel in Angola.
Yesterday, Augustine said Tobago was anticipating the moment when the owner of the vessel is positively identified. Speaking at a media conference at the Victor E Bruce Finance Complex, Augustine said, “I would be very happy if we are able to identify and actually apprehend or make culpable. At one point yesterday (Thursday), it looked as if we had a lead within our waters. The Ministry of National Security has our support. We would appreciate that this job has an international element to it and that is not within the remit of the THA, just as national security.”
He added, “We expect Central Government to take the lead. I have been very clear where the Central Government has the legal remit, I step back and allow them to take the lead. Where the THA has the remit, the THA will take the lead.”
Augustine revealed there was a false alarm after the vessel was seemingly spotted in Tobago waters.
“But it seems as though someone deliberately spoofed the AIS, which is the system where people plug in their journeys of their vessels. Someone falsely plugs in AIS as though the Solo Creed was in our waters. It means we are paying attention to what’s happening,” he said.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley said the initial claim for the oil spill in Tobago has dropped from US$30 million to US$23 million through the International Oil Pollution Compensation Fund.
During the Conversations with the Prime Minister in Scarborough on Thursday evening, Rowley said the claim is being processed through an international body that assists countries affected by oil spills. He was also referring to the International Oil Pollution Compensation (IOPC) Fund, where the country had made a submission and has qualified for assistance for funds to cover the cost of the clean-up.
Rowley said, “We started out making a claim in the estimates of approximately US$30 million. That has since been reduced to US$23 million and when all is said and done we will know what the figure is.”
Rowley said a team from the agency had already visited T&T to assess the situation, and on Thursday Cabinet agreed for officials to travel to the agency’s headquarters to continue the discussions. Rowley noted that while the final figure is not yet known, the claim is expected to be “not insignificant” and will cover the expenses incurred by the agencies and the clean-up efforts in Tobago.
But in response, Augustine said Government may, in fact, need to revert to the US$30 million claim.
“The Prime Minister is saying US$23 million and the Minister of Energy did say somewhat upwards of US$30 million. Twenty-three million brings us at around TT$150.4 million.
“Thirty million might be more ideal but at this point, without confirmation on what we would get past compensation, it’s difficult to estimate how we would be able to move with meeting the financial requirements,” he said.
The Chief Secretary added that the THA had made a request for money from the Mid-year Budget Review to treat with oil spill clean-up, affected fisherfolk and others in need of relief.