Government is exploring the possibility of a special subsidy to reduce the cost of Super gasoline for fishermen.
Energy Minister Franklin Khan said officials of the Energy Ministry will meet with Agriculture Ministry’s Fisheries Division to discuss logistical changes fishermen may have to adopt to access fuel following the cessation of Regular fuel.
He said talks may extend to working out whether a subsidy can be paid if Agriculture Ministry approves.
Khan made the announcement in Parliament yesterday, projecting answers for fishermen in a matter of “weeks.”
Fishermen, especially from Tobago, Central and South Trinidad have been expressing deep concerns about the survival of their industry and their livelihood since Government’s move to halt the importation of Regular fuel last year.
That was stopped following the closure of the Petrotrin refinery and restructuring of Petrotrin last November. Paria Fuel, the company which now imports fuel, says it was not economic to import Regular fuel because of the quantum used by fishermen.
Up to last month, Carli Bay fishermen staged a protest and Otaheite fishermen also voiced concerns recently.
Replying to questions from UNC MPs Lackram Bodoe and Ganga Singh in Parliament, Khan said his Ministry had written to the Agriculture Ministry seeking a meeting on what changes fishermen may have to adopt to access fuel.
“After (the meeting) it’s our intention to meet with the fishermen to discuss the outcome and chart a way forward on addressing the grave situation which they face.”
Asked if Government might provide a subsidy, Khan said, “That will fall into the lap of the Agriculture Ministry. But from the Energy Ministry’s side, we’ve made it quite clear it would be impossible to supply the market with Regular (fuel) at least in the short term until the (Pointe-a-Pierre) refinery becomes operational, hopefully later this year or next year.”
“We’ll work out if the Agriculture Ministry is so inclined, we’ll work out the logistics of whether a subsidy could be paid or not.”
Asked if Government had considered conditions for electric engines on fishermen’s boats, Khan said, “That has never been considered by the Energy Ministry. I could probably enquire if that technology is available and how useful it is.”
On another business matter, Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh said the Agriculture Ministry is working with the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) on T&T’s new rules concerning imported chicken. He was replying to Opposition queries on reports of inferior imported chicken being sold on the local market.
He said the rules implemented last year, limits chicken imports to birds which are no older than 180 days from the day of their being slaughtered.
Saying Government is vigilant on the issue of poultry imports into T&T, he said problems had been noted on the absence of restrictions on the shelf life of processed chicken. He said Cabinet in 2018 had approved the new policy, but there had been no action on the matter during the last People's Partnership administration’s term.