RBC-TT has, allegedly, just came off one of its best financial performances ever and is “VSE P-ing” staff.

Am I missing something here?

Linus F Didier Mt Hope

In the interim he seems to have agreed with the five percent increase in salaries/wages for the OWTU members. The increased cost, despite Petrotrin’s claim that it cannot afford it, is to be funded by internal (to Petrotrin) reduction in operating costs.

The Prime Minister’s analysis parallels mine in general though I see the wage/salary increase as a means to buy time to belatedly address the problem.

The crucial task ahead is to restructure Petrotrin — but how? In this our small open plantation economy that depends on massive imports, as long as we have oil remaining we need an onshore refinery to provide for local needs. With a refinery large enough there is nothing wrong with — even imperative — earning foreign exchange by importing crude and exporting refined products.

Further, Petrotrin with its reducing production of crude oil has to look towards producing efficiently whatever remains in its fields. Hence rationalising its management to address the improvement of the efficiency of these operations is the first objective — this will include staff reductions in an establishment that reflects both mismanagement driven also by political interference and a bloated labour force.

However, Petrotrin has run up large debts, some of which can be attributed to the failure of the projects, eg the Gas to Liquids Plant (GTL) and the Gas Optimisation Project. Given the age of the refinery these were attempts to introduce new technologies, refinery upgrades.

I have continually made the point that sustainable economic development of a country and a company depends on their operation in an environment wherein they can acquire knowledge, technology, learn it, implement it and create new associated knowledge and hence innovate. Petrobras, of Brazil, in its deep water drilling and even our own Tucker Engineering in the new technology of fracking are classic examples.

Traditionally, our foreign investment-driven energy sector has concerned itself locally with learning the operating and maintenance skills while the development, implementing and innovative skills have been left to the foreign investor.

Petrotrin has adopted the same business culture and in both of the above failures did not have the benefit of a local knowledge base or such an institution, thus making poor choices of technologies and virtually inexperienced suppliers.

So much so that Petrotrin was unable to justify to a joint select committee of the Parliament why it proposed and eventually used an untested technology for its envisioned GTL plant, now built and deemed scrap.

The lesson to draw from this is that any restructuring of Petrotrin has to include the establishment of a centre of excellence which can provide, not only to Petrotrin, but for any existing and future forays into the energy/technologically based business activities — one of the tasks for which the NEC was originally designed.

The UWI and UTT entities that are engaged in petroleum studies are not involved in the detailed technological development of the companies’ projects — R&D in these institutions are not directly about economic development.

A further justification for this kind of technological support is its importance in planning the longer-term future of the company given both the depletion of petroleum locally and the impact of climate change on the use of fossil fuels. It is worth noting BP’s comment that its name also refers to “Beyond Petroleum”, a recognition of its business future — the comment is also relevant to Petrotrin.

But to return to the issues to be addressed; the company has to rationalise its labour force given the immediate tasks ahead, its new management has to be cognisant of the strategic path the company has to tread given its depleting natural resource base, the global concerns on fossil fuels and our need to earn foreign exchange.

The finances of the company have to be restructured, particularly the huge debt that will constrain the company in its necessary new investments (the shareholder has to offer some debt relief).

Still, if the company is to become globally competitive in this energy field where the future is about the reduction of the use of fossil fuels and a growth in the use of renewables, it has to have access to the relevant knowledge, technology in its proposed upgrades which can engender a dynamic and innovative company.

Some claim that such business discipline may be beyond a State enterprise as we know it, but the examples of China and Norway are beacons to which we can aspire.

Mary K King St Augustine

The Oilfield Workers Trade Union (OWTU), as the representative trade union for IOCL workers, served strike notice against the company on October 20 last year.

Striking workers rallied through the Christmas season without their salaries, setting up camp outside the company in Otaheite, South Oropouche, demanding IOCL pay them the minimum wage they say Petrotrin stipulated via an agreement with IOCL.

Preparing to return to work, workers expressed fears that the company would victimize them.

However, human resource manager of IOCL, Rupnarine Chatelal, said, “We have absolutely no intention of victimizing our workers. IOCL employees are our employees and we need employees to run our company.

The company has suffered greatly with no revenue coming in for the last three months, but we still had financial obligations to meet with our suppliers and maintenance department.

The sooner workers return to work the better it would be for all of us.” Chatelal said IOCL should be up and running fully as early as next week or as soon as their boats become available.

“We know workers have not had an easy ride, because banks and financial institutions have been calling us asking about their payments, and the only thing we could have said was that they were on strike.” Chatelal maintained strike action “made no sense” because the company could not, even if it wanted to, pay its workers what they were demanding.

OWTU shop steward for IOCL, Ronald Williams, however, said when the matter is taken to the Industrial Court, “Lord help IOCL.” Williams said at the last two-day meeting in December at the Ministry of Labour, the OWTU on the first day requested the company to produce the evidence of their inability to pay.

According to him, IOCL refused to return with the documents on the second day.

The matter will be taken to the Industrial Court for resolution.

Speaking at a People’s National Movement (PNM) rally in Roxborough, Tobago, Rowley said the project must receive the blessing of Tobagonians before any construction can begin.

“Right now I can say to you unless we have proper agreements to satisfy you in Tobago and the national community, there may be no project of the nature but we (Government) are doing everything possible to get a project of that nature in Tobago,” he told supporters.

Rowley said he decided to raise the issue of the Sandals project after reading an article in a daily newspaper in which a candidate on an opposing team had objected to what she considered to be his dismissive stance on the issue.

“One of the candidates of one of the other groupings is saying that one of the reasons why she is a candidate is something that I said as political leader and Prime Minister upset her so much that she decided to be a candidate in the election,” he said.

“Here what upset her, that I have said that we have agreed on the Sandals project and the project is going ahead and only after an agreement has been made that there will be consultation with Tobago.” Rowley said he never said such a thing.

“There is no such record of me saying that.

“Now that I have confirmed that I did not say that, will she withdraw (as a candidate)? No, she will go ahead because she really want to fight a seat,” he said.

Rowley said long before he became prime minister, he had observed the role that this “Caribbean product” played in other islands.

“And I thought it would be a good thing for the Government of Trinidad and Tobago to encourage that business in our territory. It is big business in Bahamas, Jamaica, Antigua, Grenada and St Lucia.

And all I did was to outline that this is a Caribbean product of world scale and world class and we think that Tobago stands ready to receive something like that.

“But, you know what she said I said, ‘Because those people have it, Tobago must have it.’” Rowley said: “I never said any such thing. In fact, what I said is that we are at the stage now, where we can begin the discussion and the consultations can begin here in Tobago, under the EMA (Environmental Management Authority) to get their approvals and step by step, we will move forward with the project.

Charles has filed an application for leave which will be heard in the Port of Spain High Court on March 14, by Justice Frank Seepersad, who said he did not intend to spend an inordinately long time dealing with the issue of leave.

Representing Charles is attorney Devesh Maharaj while President of the Law Association Reginald Armour SC, and attorney Nadine Nabbie appear for the prime minister.

Armour indicated yesterday when the matter was called that he only received Charles’ application last Friday and needed time to respond.

Charles was granted permission to file an amended application by this Friday and Rowley’s affidavit in response, is to be filed on March 3. In his notice of application, Charles of Union Hall, Cross Crossing, is seeking a declaration that the decision of the prime minister to revoke his appointment was illegal, made in bad faith and is contrary to fundamental human rights provided for under the Constitution.

He says that he was not provided equality before the law and equality of treatment. Charles will also be asking the court to declare that he had a legitimate expectation to maintain his rank and position as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary upon returning to Trinidad and Tobago and therefore the decision of the prime minister to revoke his appointment as ambassador was a deprivation of his legitimate expectation that he would have retained his position.

He also seeks an order quashing the ‘flawed and defective’ decision to revoke his appointment as the prime minister failed to provide reasons for doing so and an order redirecting his (Charles’) appointment in addition to damages.

According to Charles, he was appointed Ambassador in March 2012.

He said he never had any previous interaction with Foreign Affairs Minister Dennis Moses and in September 2015, Moses visited the UN Headquarters in New York to attend the 70th session of the UN General Assembly.

Charles said he and Moses attended a series of meetings in which he briefed the Minister and advised him on several issues including a meeting of CARICOM Foreign Ministers.

Charles said that on September 30, 2015, Moses met with Ghanian Foreign Minister and while it was customary for advisors to attend, the minister did not want him (Charles) present at the meeting.

Charles said he later learned that the Ghanian minister had his advisors present at the meeting which concerned the planned visit by PM Rowley to Ghana in 2016.

Charles said at the end of 2015, he was asked by the acting permanent secretary of the Foreign Affairs Ministry to submit his resume which he did although this was not the norm. He said that on September 20, 2016, he received an instrument of revocation of his appointment.

At a rally in Roxborough on Sunday, ahead of next Monday’s Tobago House of Assembly (THA) election, Rowley alleged that between January, 2014 and September 2015, Moore was paid $200,000 a month as a NIDCO consultant. He further alleged there was “an arrangement” between Moore and the PP, before the 2013 THA election, but did not present documents to support his allegation of Moore’s salary.

He recalled that Moore who at the time, was a member of the Tobago Organisation of the People (TOP), had taken a surprisingly keen interest in Tobago politics ahead of the 2013 THA election.

“You may recall in 2013, Christlyn Moore appeared here out of the blue,” Rowley told supporters.

“She entered the Cabinet in Trinidad and the next thing you know she was in Tobago, promoting the UNC.” The TOP was a member of the UNC-led People’s Partnership.

Moore was appointed Justice Minister on September 20, 2012 after Herbert Volney was fired from the PP Cabinet. A year later, Moore was replaced as minister by Emmanuel George. Rowley recalled that when the PNM won the 2013 THA election, “and I came back to Trinidad, she (Moore) was out of the Cabinet.

Obviously, she had come into the Cabinet to fight the Tobago elections and since she was found to be useless on that occasion, she was out of the Cabinet.” “But she didn’t go very far. The arrangement was in place and the arrangement was this: Out of the Cabinet and you get the best paying job in the country. I don’t know what was the arrangement but because the arrangement was kept, I have to conclude it was made before and regardless of the (THA election) results. So, she ended up with the highest paid job in the country…paid by you taxpayers.” Rowley alleged that when Moore returned to Trinidad after the 2013 THA election, she was offered a job as a NIDCO consultant to the tune of $200,000 a month. “You understand that and if you say the month has 20 working days, that is $10,000 per day. And you know who was paying that? You the tax payers,” he told supporters.

Saying Moore must give Tobagonians an account for her actions, Rowley said the PNM has no real challenge in next week’s election.

“I am telling you now in case you do not believe me, the only people we are fighting in Tobago in 2017, are two proxys of the UNC…the Tobago Forwards and Progressive Democratic Patriots,” Rowley said.

Contacted for comment yesterday, Moore did not mince her words saying that the Prime Minister had made “slanderous” allegations against her in public. “And I will tell you this, I will refer this matter to my lawyers,” Moore said.

This was the finding of an autopsy done by Dr Hughvon des Vignes yesterday at the Forensic Science Centre in St James. The autopsy showed that someone placed their hands around the 17-year-old girl’s throat and squeezed until she died from a lack of oxygen. The victim had abrasions over her left eye and on her left and right hip.

Further checks revealed that she was not sexually assaulted in any way prompting police investigators to believe that Ramkissoon may have known her killer and may have put up a fight with the person or persons who killed her.

Yesterday, Homicide Investigations Bureau detectives told Newsday they are working on the theory that Ramkissoon was picked up last Friday by someone she had a close interaction with.

Her cell phone records are being checked to ascertain who she spoke with last Friday before she left her Talparo home clad in school uniform.

Officers of the Police Cybercrime unit are also checking the same telephone records to ascertain who she communicated with regularly and based on this information, persons will be interviewed.

Yesterday, detectives ruled out a theory that Ramkissoon may have been abducted by someone whose intention was to rape or assault her.

On Saturday and Sunday homicide officers went into the Talparo area and began canvassing in an effort to seek out any persons who may have key information to assist them in the investigation.

However all the persons spoken to were unable to assist in any meaningful way to the murder probe. Police returned to the area yesterday and have begun profiling PH (private hire) drivers and taxi drivers in the area to ascertain if any of them may have matters pending in court for serious crimes including rape. On Friday, Ramkissoon missed the school bus and contacted a relative who also attends the same school asking that relative to ask the bus driver if he could pick her up. The driver allegedly refused prompting Ramkissoon to seek public transportation.

The girl’s relative claimed that she only travelled with drivers she knew prompting police to believe that the person who murdered Ramkissoon may have known her.

Last Friday a hunter stumbled upon the body of Ramkissoon at Balata Trace, San Raphael. She was found fully clad in her uniform, lying face down.

Yesterday, Education Minister Anthony Garcia visited Ramkissoon’s school, to bring his personal commiserations to students and teachers. He assured that his ministry will do all in its power to ensure the safety of students outside of school hours. “This is a tragedy that affects all of is. We must bind together to ensure we do not have a reoccurence of this kind of thing,” Garcia told reporters yesterday at the school. School principal Jesslyn Ramlal said that the entire student population and teachers were left traumatised by Ramkissoon’s murder. “We were all left traumatised by Rachael’s death. Teachers and students alike, we are all distraught,” Ramlal said in a brief interview.

But a mere seven hours later, the Ministry of Works and Transport said it was “concerned about the legality of (Uber’s) operations within this jurisdiction.” The ministry is therefore “seeking legal advice to determine if the service can continue to operate within Trinidad and Tobago’s legislative framework” and has ad vised the public to “exercise caution and due diligence.” The ministry said “a major concern” regarding Uber’s operation in TT is whether private vehicles would be used for hire.

“The Motor Vehicle and Road Traffic Act provides that “no person shall drive on any road, a taxi registered as such, unless he is the holder of a taxi driver’s licence issued to him by the Licensing Authority under these regulations.” When you travel with an authorised taxi,” the ministry noted, “you are ensuring that the relevant checks and balances have taken place. Further, the use of a private vehicle for hire is contrary to its registration.

The public is advised that no private vehicle should be used for hire.” “The issue of insurance cannot be overlooked.

Unauthorised vehicles may not have the necessary insurance coverage for all passengers. Therefore, using a vehicle contrary to its registration may have far reaching implications for the driver and passengers,” the ministry stated.

Last week, Uber’s Communications Associate for Central America and the Caribbean, Julie Robinson-Centella, reminded that Uber is “a technology service, not a taxi company” so its service “cannot be regulated or legislated through the same regulations or laws…but definitely, we are doing everything possible to have the best service in TT and we’re a legal company established to work here.” Uber also issued a statement about insurance coverage prior to the ministry’s announcement yesterday evening.

The US-based company said because “safety is important to us…

Uber has partnered with Guardian General to provide insurance coverage for the protection of both riders and third-parties using UberX in TT.” While users currently have to be in Port-of- Spain or San Fernando to request a ride; you will be picked up at the location of your choosing, the Uber driver can take you to a destination outside of these two zones. The minimum Uber fare is TT 32.50, with the final cost of your trip being based on the following: Base fare: TT $20.00 Per minute: TT $1.20 Per kilometre: TT $1.40 Booking fee: TT $2.50

We do not concern ourselves necessarily with the details of the time-line of when the asbestos- containing materials were discovered on the compound at St Ann’s.

More disturbing is the revelation that the State does not seem to have had reliable systems in place over the last few decades to track potential asbestos hazards and to take action to remove materials.

Asbestos is a natural mineral that at one stage was hailed for its strength. While it was widely used in construction all over the world (the US military used it extensively on its buildings) it was discovered to be highly toxic and phased out in the 1980s. Today asbestos is a known cause of mesothelioma cancer, and is banned or restricted in more than 50 countries.

Many buildings in Trinidad and Tobago were constructed using asbestos and some have been demolished.

Yet, despite this issue being well-known, it seems the State has not properly taken stock of its assets. It has now discovered, belatedly we are told, that a room at the Office of the President, is lined with materials containing asbestos.

Udecott, confusingly, denies the asbestos-containing materials have been disturbed; denies the presence of asbestos itself; and, in the same breath, says it is seeking a contractor “for the removal of asbestos- containing materials”. President’s House, however, has already ordered staff to undergo medical checks. Over the years, what checks, if any, were made by the State in relation to this hazard? If there was a reliable system in place, this whole confusion would not be taking place. The compound that houses the Office of the President is an important, historic one. President’s House is next door. It has hosted dignitaries from around the world, including Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II, and for years it was the place where the finest of the finest would gather for National Awards, toasting those who have achieved the highest level of success in all manner of spheres.

The contempt with which President’s House has been treated since its collapse six years ago is the proper context in which this latest “discovery” must be understood.

The neglect of this historic building has been such that even issues relating to is annexures are inadequately understood.

We join the nation in hoping for the best for all persons employed at these premises. Workers should not have to be subject to these kinds of fears. It is imperative that this matter is fully investigated by the Occupational Health and Safety Authority and its agency. If there is good reason, the State must be held accountable for any lapses.

It is clear that as a society we tend to take these matters of health and safety for granted. How many companies in older premises have conducted reviews to rule out an asbestos threat? Asbestos was recently found at a court at San Fernando and, years ago, at the Salvatori Building.

It is true that if asbestos is not disturbed it is harmless. However, its mere presence is a potential risk as natural events can occur which could render damage to buildings.

If there is one silver lining from all of this, it is that this should encourage careful review of procedures relating to the State’s buildings and how they are tracked and managed. A review of communication between different state entities such as the Ministry of Works, Udecott and the offices they touch upon is also clearly needed. Let’s get to the bottom of this.

Unfortunately, it is not only in the sphere of tourism that this country has failed to keep abreast with our Caribbean neighbours.

TT seems stuck in a rut. MX Prime in his recent release described our attitude well, “The Treasury could bun down, but we jamming still,” and “de economy could fall down, but we jamming still.” Why is it that this country, richer than most in the Caribbean, remains so utterly disorganised, so confused, so unable to get its act together? We have transformed our green spaces into rubbish dumps; we contaminate our rivers — if not deliberately then by the accidental spillage of (always) “non-toxic pollutants”; our city floods after ten minutes of rain; we clog our drains with junk.

There is no wildlife policy; no protection of species; our “culture” redounds to the mandatory imposition of steel-pan beating in schools along with calypso and soca.

The former has degenerated into the political dirge, and the latter has become overly vulgar, crass and chauvinist.

Can you believe that people would “wine and jam” to Benji’s latest offering that tells of his “girlfriend” who “pee dong she pants?” Then again that is who we are.

When will we as a society begin to rubbish political ole talk, mamaguy and empty promises? When will we ever start to ignore hearsay, rumour, and lies and begin to verify the facts as they are for ourselves? Will we ever be able to see the illiterate rubbish that continues to be fuelled by blind race prejudice? When will we begin to assess the worth of our politicians by objectively assessing the fruit of their labour — objectively analyse the good they have done — rather than allow ourselves to be swayed by either what they or others say about them or say about what they heard someone say of them? We are a childish and pathetically immature semiliterate society too lazy to search for objective facts.

We are a naive people who focus on irrelevant personal traits rather than on the results that a person’s work generates.

We are an emotive society too easily influenced by politically fuelled irrational racial biases.

These have been impediments to our growth as a nation.

When we ought to be making our politicians pay a heavy price for resurrecting racial ancestral memories, we instead reward them through our support. The net result is that they perpetuate their corrupt ways while we remain mired in the backwardness born of the disunity they cause.