La Brea MP Fitzgerald Jeffrey is calling for independent environmentalists to monitor communities stricken by oil spills attributed to State-owned Petrotrin. Jeffrey made the call after pointing out that dozens of residents from La Brea are still suffering from the effects of the 11 oil spills which occurred late last year. “People are still getting hair loss, skin irritations and nausea. At least two families have moved out of La Brea,” Jeffrey told the T&T Guardian in a telephone interview.
He added that several people have sought legal advice and are in the process of filing lawsuits against Petrotrin. However, he said not all residents can afford to take legal action. Jeffrey’s call comes even as Marabella resident Wendy Brewster was last week diagnosed with benzene poisoning following an oil spill at Petrotrin’s main refinery. She remains hospitalised. The MP said every day his office staff receives cries for help from oil spill victims.
He said the EMA was compromised and would not do a proper assessment, hence his call for independent environmentalists to join in the post-spill process in La Brea. “I can say this because when the oil spill first occurred, the EMA officials called for evacuation but afterwards they said there was no need to evacuate even though so many people were falling ill,” Jeffrey said.
Chair responds
Contacted on the issue, EMA chairman Dr Allan Bachan said Jeffrey’s comments were unfortunate. “The EMA is a regulatory authority and our responsibility is to be fair, balanced and following the rule of law. Our role is to undertake the necessary investigations and we cannot act on the basis of emotions in the absence of fact,” Bachan said. Describing Jeffrey’s comments as “reckless,” Bachan said ongoing investigations were still taking place in La Brea.
“We are independent and whatever statements we make must be backed by sound science and proper data. We are monitoring the impact of the oil spill on plant, human and marine life and when our investigations are complete we will make it public,” Bachan said. He said toxicity levels are being checked in the mangroves and rivers. He noted that although there is no visible sign of oil, there has been seepage into the sand, which could kill the mangroves.
“This has to be monitored over a long term basis,” Bachan explained. He said there was no need to call in foreign environmentalists to monitor the impact, adding the EMA will make a fair and balanced statement and will recommend remedial action as needed.
In December 17, Petrotrin experienced a rupture on its No 10 sea line spilling 7,453 barrels of fuel oil into the sea. Several areas including Queen beach, Station beach, Coffee beach and Brighton were affected by the spill. This was followed by ten other spills. The company was subsequently fined $20 million by the EMA.