Blame Petrotrin’s downsizing for oil tank suicide

Pierre’s body was fished out of an oil-tank on Wednesday evening almost a week after he was able gain entry to the facility, though the Trinmar installations are heavily guarded. Addressing a media conference at the Pointe-a-Pierre roundabout in Marabella yesterday morning, Roget described the incident as “sad”, adding that had Petrotrin not reduced its security personnel, Pierre would not have been able to pass the security check-point.

Roget said, “That resident of Point Fortin died in troubling and vexing circumstances; circumstances that were preventable, and so, if the company had done what it was supposed to have done in law and in terms of procedure, such as safety and security for its operation, that citizen would have been alive today.” He added, “The blood of that citizen rests squarely on the hands of the top management of the Petroleum company of Trinidad and Tobago.” Roget called for an in-depth and comprehensive enquiry into the breach of security arrangements which would have led to Pierre getting onto the Trinmar’s compound.

He said the reduction of security personnel throughout the oil company had led to an increase in theft and robberies at installations in its oilfields, as well as the discovery of dead bodies along rural field roads.

Roget said, “You would also recall us reporting the discovery of dead bodies in the producing fields.

How did those bodies get there without the knowledge of security.

You will also recall the union reporting that pumping jacks and motors stolen from the fields under the not so watchful eye of the security, because the security is just not there. In some cases, it has been reduced by 50 percent. Where you supposed to have two security officers, you have one. At the Forest gate for instance, where the security guard was beaten and robbed because you had two security guards at each gate, and he reduce it from two to one.” Meanwhile, in a media release, Petrotrin stated that a review of its security arrangements had commenced throughout its operations following the incident that occurred at the company’s Point Ligoure Tank Farm, Point Fortin.

The company stated that it has instituted a number of new security measures , including the erection of a 12-foot security fence with razor wire at the top for added security; signage indicating that the facility is for Authorised Personnel Only; a solid brick wall at the northern side of the Public Cemetery in addition to the Tank Farm’s wire wall panels.” The company noted that it had increased routine surveillance and patrol by security officers while a review of its security measures are currently taking place.