Petrotrin workers protest with debris — Managers blocked in

Protest action at State-owned oil company, Petrotrin, spread to its Guayaguayare exploration and production site-facility as workers downed tools to highlight outstanding health and safety issues yesterday.

The workers also blocked the entrances to the administration offices with rusted oil barrels, tools and other pieces of equipment before entering the offices of manager, Harold Jagdeo, demanding that the company address their concerns. Employees also alleged that certain high officials at Petrotrin were intentionally “running down” the facility in an effort to farm out its oil fields to well known players in the energy industry. From as early as 7 am, the 40-plus, chanting, placard-bearing workers gathered in front of the administration offices calling for the resignation of manager, Harold Jagdeo. The workers however deny detaining manager, Harold Jagdeo, saying employees had a right to raise concerns with the company’s management officials.

OWTU representative, Sylos Pollydore, said employees were concerned that health and safety issues were being placed on the back burner by the company. “Just imagine, a big oil company like Petrotrin, we don’t have a single ambulance on site,” he said. “The administration, the workers feel, is running down the entire operations here,” he said, adding, “like they have a definite plan to close down this operation.” In a media release, Petrotrin acknowledged the action by employees, saying the issue was resolved after lengthy discussions between workers’ representatives and the company. But it pointed out that during the protest, debris was heaped at the entrance and exit of the field by workers “preventing movement of personnel in and out of the compound.” The company stated that while there was no injury to personnel there was some damage to office infrastructure which was yet to be determined. Work is expected to resume tomorrow.