By Chantalé Fletcher
THE board of directors of Petrotrin will determine whether to appeal the arbitration it lost against AV Drilling.
This according to Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley in the Lower House on Friday.
Dr Rowley was responding to a question by Opposition Saddam Hosein’s on the issue of AV Drilling arbitration case.
Speaking during the Prime Minister Question segment, Dr Rowley said, “I am aware that the board of Petrotrin has received advice from a number of legal luminaries on this matter and the board will take the appropriate action in the public interest. I am not aware that an application was filed in the court but that may or may not be so.”
He said, “With respect to deadlines, and keeping of deadlines and advice of one senior counsel that is a matter for the board of Petrotrin. And if the board of Petrotrin is seeking advice.
“I am sure that the advice of one Senior Counsel is an advice, but there may be other advice and the deadlines to be met.
“The entire matter is a matter for the board to meet its deadline and to take on board, the advice it gets from its legal service as obtained on the matter,” he explained.
Dr Rowley stated that the protection of a billion dollars is not the issue.
He said, “However, the issue is that Petrotrin has lost the matter and an appeal is being considered and the board of Petrotrin will determine based on the legal advice, whether or not the appeal should be pursued or whether it should see to do otherwise.”
Asked by Hosein’s whether the cabinet requested a report from Petrotrin, Dr Rowley said, “This is not a matter for the Prime Minister. And my satisfaction is not an issue in this matter and if you are so concerned, you should be concerned that your colleague from Siparia has put us all in this situation.”
He said, “What the cabinet is aware off, is a matter addressed by Petrotrin, and Petrotrin through its board.”
Dr Rowley said, “There’s a minister for Petrotrin and they will always in this government protect the public interest.”
