[UPDATED] ATFA: Chief administrator withheld fishermen's oil-spill compensation

THE ALL Tobago Fisherfolk Association (ATFA) is accusing the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) chief administrator of withholding compensation for the fishermen who were among the major casualties of the February 7 oil spill.

The spill affected several coastal villages along the island’s southwestern peninsula.

The THA said in a statement on July 18 it had received its $50 million from the Government to help with expenses incurred as a result of the oil spill. It had originally requested just over $150 million.

At that time, Chief Secretary Farley Augustine assured the THA would work assiduously to ensure payments were made “to as many service providers as possible within the shortest practicable time frame."

At a news conference on September 5 at the Scarborough Esplanade, ATFA president Curtis Douglas said more than a month after the money was released, the fishermen are still awaiting compensation.

“With respect to the oil spill and compensation from the contractors who would have worked on the oil spill seven months ago, I am here today to say...the fisherfolk, which is ATFA, have not received any money, any payment. The only payment we would have received is some cacada (meagre sum) they would have given to us for one month in February,” he told reporters.

“Since then, the $50 million that was sent to the assembly, where the Chief Secretary and they came out and said they would have received it – we, the Tobago contractors, have not been paid as yet.”

Douglas said he learnt from Secretary of Finance and the Economy Petal-Ann Roberts that the money was disbursed to the chief administrator.

“But for some reason, the administrator is playing God with the money for the fisherfolk. Over a month now, since they received that money, we haven’t received a penny.”

He urged Augustine to look into the matter.

“The people would have voted for you to represent them and you cannot have a public servant that is playing God with the people’s money deciding or pulling out from the pick-a-pan who she is going to pay and who she would not be paying.”

Douglas claimed all the Trinidad contractors had been paid.

“Why it is the first responders for Tobago, who would have made sure that we secure our environment and mitigate the hydrocarbon from destroying the island, have not been paid?”

Douglas believes fishermen were being victimised because he spoke out about the issue previously.

“We are saying those types of plantation behaviour, we will not tolerate it in Tobago, and I am calling for an investigation or an audit into this money.

“We already have done the work. It is seven-eight months now and you telling me you still want to pull names from the pick a pan because you don’t like me. So you decide you not going to pay me.”

He said he has tried in vain to contact the chief administrator."

Douglas said he is apolitical.

“It is not my concern about red, black or blue. My concern is Tobago, and I am going to speak out and let the Tobagonians know, I am going to let the public know what is taking place. I am here to represent Tobago and the contractors and the fisherfolk of Tobago.

“What yardstick did you use to decide to pay only Trinidad contractors and not pay Tobago contractors, after we were the ones that advocated to ensure that Tobago gets paid?”

Saying institutional victimisation is real, Douglas said he is “grossly and gravely disappointed” with the actions of the accounting department “and more so the head, which is the chief administrator.

“I am wondering if this is a political attack against the people of Tobago because of what was said. Well, I am saying to you all, ‘My money and our money don’t sleep out. We want we money and we want it now.”

Contacted by Newsday, Nigel Taitt, Assistant Secretary in the Division of Food Security, Natural Resources, the Environment and Sustainable Development, said via WhatsApp: “A committee was put in place to deal with the oil spill relief. They are doing all of the assessments to deal with it at this time.”

This story has been adjusted to include additional details. See original post below.

THE ALL Tobago Fisherfolk Association (ATFA) is accusing the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) chief administrator of withholding compensation for the fishermen who were among the major casualties of the February 7 oil spill.

The spill affected several coastal villages along the island’s southwestern peninsula.

The THA said in a statement on July 18 it had received its $50 million from the Government to help with expenses incurred as a result of the oil spill. It had originally requested just over $150 million.

At that time, Chief Secretary Farley Augustine assured the THA would work assiduously to ensure payments were made “to as many service providers as possible within the shortest practicable time frame."

At a news conference on September 5 at the Scarborough Esplanade, ATFA president Curtis Douglas said more than a month after the money was released, the fishermen are still awaiting compensation.

“With respect to the oil spill and compensation from the contractors who would have worked on the oil spill seven months ago, I am here today to say...the fisherfolk, which is ATFA, have not received any money, any payment. The only payment we would have received is some cacada (meagre sum) they would have given to us for one month in February,” he told reporters.

“Since then, the $50 million that was sent to the assembly, where the Chief Secretary and they came out and said they would have received it – we, the Tobago contractors, have not been paid as yet.”

Douglas said he learnt from Secretary of Finance and the Economy Petal-Ann Roberts that the money was disbursed to the chief administrator.

“But for some reason, the administrator is playing God with the money for the fisherfolk. Over a month now, since they received that money, we haven’t received a penny.”

He urged Augustine to look into the matter.

“The people would have voted for you to represent them and you cannot have a public servant that is playing God with the people’s money deciding or pulling out from the pick-a-pan who she is going to pay and who she would not be paying.”