Caption: The mothballed refinery at Pointe-a-Pierre. AZP News/Prior Beharry
By Chantalé Fletcher
PRIME Minister Dr Keith Rowley says the Cabinet will put a team in place in one month’s time to evaluate the offers of those who think they can run the refinery.
“And have the means to convince us, they are a good fit,” he said.
Speaking at the People’s National Movement (PNM) 2024 Sport and Family Day at Skinner Park, San Fernando on Sunday, he responded to Oilfield Workers Trade Union (OWTU) leader Ancel Roget comments during Labour Day celebrations that he could not sell the former Petrotrin Refinery without the union’s permission.
In response, Dr Rowley said, “Well, I want to tell him today when you own refinery the government wouldn’t interfere with it but the refinery that is owned by the people of Trinidad and Tobago and until you are in the government or the prime minister, go and sing your calypso to our friends elsewhere and stop talking stupidness.”
And on the decisions on whether the refinery will be kept or sold, he said, ” I expect that by the end of August the Government will be able to say to you, yes we have a taker or no we have no taker and that will have nothing to do with these mischievous troublemakers who believe they could talk nonsense anytime and the Government will sit back and take it.”
He added that the decision to close down the refinery was part of the county’s management and workers were paid $2.7 billion in separation. Additionally, he said the refinery was unutilized since 2018 and parliamentarians quarrel that the Government was spending one million to do maintenance.
Meanwhile, Dr Rowley said PNM members will soon have to elect the party’s executive team.
In his address to members, he said, “And I can guarantee you that these standard operations will cause no upheaval, no disruption in the PNM because we are Eric Williams’ party, we are different.”
And as the 2015 General election approached, Dr Rowley urged citizens to be careful of who they consider to run the affairs of the state.
