Ex-minister warns of fake oil spin

“There is an attempt to spin this fake oil issue away from the fact that it happened in 2016 to 2017, that is what the report says and the Minister of Energy is taking very long to get a copy of that report,” Ramnarine said.

“During the four years and two months that I was minister of energy, on no occasion was any information or evidence presented to me that this sort of thing was going on in Petrotrin,” he said.

Ramnarine was addressing the UNC’s Monday Night Forum meeting at the Union Presbyterian Primary School, Claxton Bay on Monday evening. He reminded the audience that he had taken action against the so-called diesel racket when evidence of fraud had been uncovered.

And with Finance Minister Colm Imbert expected to present the 2018 budget on October 2, Ramnarine warned the large contingent of party supporters that the budget would be “rough” given the declining economy.

“New vehicle sales down 20 per cent, cement sales down 20 per cent in 2016, 6 per cent in 2017, containerised cargo at PLIPDECO down 24.9 per cent,” he said, adding, “The economy recorded negative 2.3 per cent growth, the worst ever growth in 30 years in 2016, the International Monetary Fund said it is not 2.3, it is really (negative) 5.1 per cent.” “Construction is at a halt, unemploymentthe CSO gave us some figures on unemployment, I don’t believe them, many of you all have children who are unemployed, we have a stagnant economy and a few days ago, the Minister of Planning said there would be more pressure to come in the 2018 budget,” he said.

“The budget to be read on October 2 is going to be rough and I advise everybody to brace for impact.”