A week-long protest in Erin, South Trinidad, escalated yesterday as residents dragged an oil rig across the main road, blocking off access for most of the day. This happened a day after residents threatened to interfere with oil lines if the Government failed to pave their roads, provide recreational parks, improve street lighting and offer employment.
The rig, valued at $850,000, had been housed a short distance from the Los Bajos cemetery. Before dawn, about 50 protestors broke through a barrier and pushed the rig onto the road. They also erected a shed across the street and placed placards on the lamp posts reading, “Hole! Hole! Hole!” and “Fix our Roads now!”
For the fourth consecutive day, several places including Los Charros junction, STOL Road, Happy Valley, Rancho Quemado, Grand Ravine, Carapal, Lorensotte and Petrotrin Oilfield Road were impassable. Contractor Jevan Francis said the rig belonged to Strong Arm Swabing Services.
“I have to say that they did not damage the rig. They sent down the tyres but they did not hit the rig or put fire to it. I don’t give them wrong for protesting because this road is the worst road in the country and it is unbearable because all the oil money coming from this region,” Francis said. Chairman of the group People for Progress Victor Roberts said several calls had been made for Government to address their concerns. However, he disassociated his group from any acts of sabotage and violence.
“We are a peaceful group and we will not condone any acts to damage oil lines,” Roberts said. He also said Works Minister Dr Suruj Rambachan had requested a meeting with them, to be held at 3 pm in Gasparillo, but they had rejected it. “We find this disrespectful because we want him to come to Erin and see the road conditions for himself. Why should we meet in Gasparillo,” Roberts said.
MP for La Brea Fitzgerald Jeffrey visited the area yesterday and accused Government of discriminating against the La Brea constituency. He said when he spoke to Rambachan, he was told “finish what you start.” Jeffrey said he was not the organiser of the protest. He also said he did not condone the destruction of property: “We will be more affected if people start interfering with oil lines. All people want right now is better roads.”
Petrotrin responds
Petrotrin’s head of corporate communications Gillian Friday yesterday expressed concern over residents’ threats to interfere with Petrotrin’s oil lines and facilities which could possibly endanger their own safety as well as the environment. Asked whether security was being boosted, Friday said: “The company will take all necessary measures to ensure the safety of its employees and residents in the neighbouring communities and the security of its assets.”
Asked whether Los Charos, STOL Road, and Oilfield Road fell under the purview of Petrotrin, Friday said: “These roads are maintained by the Ministry of Works with the off-take roads to Petrotrin’s wells and facilities maintained by Petrotrin.” She said Petrotrin’s maintenance of its Field roads was ongoing in order to ensure access to its wells and facilities. Petrotrin President Khalid Hassanali also said Petrotrin would be unable to fix roads if the oil price was US$45 per barrel.
We will fix the roads—Rambachan
Dr Suruj Rambachan said yesterday that the SS Erin Road through Los Charros, Palo Seco, had been earmarked for rehabilitation. The works would be done on a phased basis, Rambachan said, but his ministry was waiting on the release of a second tranche of a loan, which had already been approved, to initiate the next phase of road rehabilitation works.