Roget: TT needs Petrotrin

He warned the country would lose if this happened.

He said the OWTU wants “experienced and competent management” being put at the helm of Petrotrin to rid the company of the “poor leadership and poor management” which has plagued it for years. Roget told reporters the OWTU is calling for the removal of some “top management personnel” at Petrotrin who it believes has contributed to the poor state of affairs at the company.

While the union was informed that Cabinet has taken no decision about Petrotrin’s future, Roget said, “Lots of bad decisions were made for and on behalf of Petrotrin.” He told reporters those decisions were not made “by the workers.” Roget said some of these decisions were taken under the former People’s Partnership government while others were taken before.

According to Roget, Petrotrin’s workers were not responsible for “giving out contracts to friends and families” or “gas to liquids decisions.” He also said unqualified people were placed in top positions.

“Positions were created for persons at the top, at the expense of filling of vacancies at the lower levels.” Against this background, Roget said the OWTU told Khan it wants to be privy to any decision which Cabinet will take about restructuring Petrotrin, before that decision is made public. He said Khan told him yesterday’s meeting was about getting more information from the union which he would take to Cabinet at its regular weekly meeting at the Diplomatic Centre in St Ann’s on Thursday.

Last week, Cabinet held a special meeting about Petrotrin but no decisions were made. Roget said Khan gave no indication as to when a decision would be taken.

He reiterated the OWTU will oppose any decision which results in sending workers home. Roget reminded reporters that in 2009, 2012, 2014 and 2015, the OWTU was very vocal about poor performance at Petrotrin.