radhica.sookraj@guardian.co.tt
Saboteurs hacked off a six-inch oil transfer pipeline in Fyzabad, causing spillage of thick crude over 10 acres of land and triggering the evacuation of over 40 residents on Thursday.
Threats were left for company officials at the scene of the crime.
On an oil containment tank were the words: “Ask Kern where my money for my pipeline.” On the cut six-inch pipeline was written: “Nigel and Kern, Blood next.”
The sabotage came a week after a gauge hut was set on fire at Gowers Well Road, Fyzabad.
When Guardian Media arrived on the scene, officials from Touchstone Exploration and Primera Oil and Gas Limited were on site.
A source said the line had been immediately isolated and the companies worked around the clock to mop up the spill.
Residents told Guardian Media that based on the amount of oil seen in the rivers, they were worried about the impact on their livestock and vegetation.
Farmer Julian Chaitan removed his herd of cows from the oil-slicked pastures.
“If they eat the oil grass they will get sick,” he said.
He explained several watercourses were contaminated with oil.
Several residents from Gowers Well Road said they had lost crops and livestock.
Pointing to a contaminated river, Shevon Mahabir said: “There was some sabotage with an oil line higher up so the oil came down into the lands. Right now, the chicken pens are filled with oil so we had to let the chickens go. We had to relocate all the goats because we have nowhere to tie them right now.”
Mahabir said his tilapia ponds were also covered with oil.
“All the fish die. Right now there are no fish.”
He said this was not the first time they were hit by vandals.
“This going on for weeks. You cannot leave your house because when you leave, people come and thieving and cutting up the lines,” he added
He said about 500 feet away from his home, a gauge hut was burnt down.
“We cannot rest easy at night because we have oil wells here and this could cause a disaster. We are stressed out because we do not know what to do. Everything die, all our plants die,” Mahabir said.
Another resident, Kimberly Ragoonath-Kokaram, said the smell of hydrocarbon fumes was so high that she and her daughter got sick.
“We started getting stomach pains. Our chests were heavy and we got light-headed and nauseous and my daughter vomited. The effects were so bad we could not eat,” Ragoonath-Kokaram said.
Another resident, Thomas Kokaram, said he had lost fields of dasheen, eddoes, coconut, peas and corn.
“This is not the first time we dealing with this,” he said.
Contacted for comment, Touchstone Exploration chief executive officer Paul Baay said there was one incident of sabotage.
“It was a smaller line, not a major spill and there was a minor impact to the environment, We isolated the spill so the bleed is contained. I cannot confirm that ten-acre area but we are in the midst of getting all of the oil mopped up with trucks. Compensation will work out with the residents we asked if they wanted relocation. And we did relocate and provide food. That was our emergency plan. It is tough when it’s an act of sabotage,” Baay said.
He declined to comment on the messages left at the scene.
“The police have been investigating and they have asked us not to comment on that,” Baay said.
He confirmed that the gauge hut is on the same property as the pipeline. noting that the police are investigating that issue as well.
Baay also said the police have been very responsive and supportive.
“At this point, crime is on the rise we have seen it in the oilfields and it hasn’t affected us until last night,” Baay said, noting that the act was “senseless.”
He confirmed that security will be ramped up on the site.