FFOS demands answers after oil spill

Head of environmental watchdog group Fishermen and Friends of the Sea (FFOS) Gary Aboud knocked the government for what he described as the failure to answer questions pertaining to Sunday’s oil spill off the coast of Chaguaramas.

Aboud made the remarks yesterday via a media release in which he called for full disclosure and accountability from government and their partner agencies in the circumstances surrounding the incident. Citing reports that the spill was contained, he said that while agencies were engaged in clean up operations on land, little has been done to protect the marine environment.

“They are just cleaning up the beaches right now so that we can go and swim but the chemical is in the water, it’s in the sand. Which side is the Minister on? Has the Government already taken sides? Who is this new service provider that is servicing the oil rigs? What is the reputation of this company? Who is responsible?”

Aboud said that he believed the source of the oil spill to be from an oil rig which was being cleaned by a private contractor and is calling on the government to exercise transparency as the EMA moves to determine the source of the spill.

“The government is obviously keeping secrets from the public. With the National Oil Spill Emergency Plan, the minister has obligations that he clearly has not fulfilled, so FFOS would be willing to advise the EMA and the Minister so that they can share in the technical advice,” he said.