Duke, ATFA give Chief Sec ultimatum over oil-spill $$

THE All Tobago Fisherfolk Association (ATFA) has called on Progressive Democratic Patriots (PDP) political leader Watson Duke to intervene on their behalf after claiming their pleas for THA compensation for the February 7, 2024, oil spill has fallen on deaf ears.

Duke joined ATFA at a media conference on February 10 and accepted the responsibility, giving Chief Secretary Farley Augustine an ultimatum to respond to the fisherfolk in one week or else he would take action.

"We will mobilise all of Tobago to come and revoke you from office because you are there illegally. I can tell you, I put you there. You are there illegally," Duke said.

The PDP won the last THA elections 14-1, but a rift between Duke and Augustine saw the former resign as Deputy Chief Secretary. Augustine and the rest of the THA Executive left the PDP and have formed their own party, the Tobago People's Party.

However. Douglas still believes Duke, the lone PDP assemblyman, has the onus to intercede on their behalf.

Douglas acknowledged that his organisation received approximately $1.9 million from the THA, but noted that this was for contractual work on the oil-spill clean-up.

Stressing that no money was paid to him, Douglas said, "The money was paid for people who worked. It has nothing to do with compensation. We have a contracting firm. We are a well-oiled organisation. We pay our taxes up to mark."

Duke claimed Augustine was trying to assassinate Douglas' character.

Douglas said, "When Mr (Farley) Chavez (Augustine) is making his utterances about how much money Mr Douglas receive, is not Mr Douglas receive the money. The ATFA worked as a contractor with the oil spill."

Douglas compared the payment to ATFA to that of Trinidad contractors. He noted a payment of $18.7 million to Kaizen Environmental Services (Ltd), $15.4 million to Tiger Tanks and $4.3 million to another Trinidad company.

Duke claimed Tobago contractors are similarly being put on the back burner.

He said, "Farley does not love Tobagonians. Is the same thing you doing with contractors. There are several contractors in Tobago who they owe millions of dollars and they not paying them. They paying Trinidad contractors. Show the people love."

With the general election and THA elections both constitutionally due in 2025, Duke said Tobagonians must not have to beg.

"This is an election year. We ain’t playing with no politician. If you want vote, do thing to get vote. Be on your knees and serve the people.

"The fishermen and fisherwoman are people. They must be respected. Every time they go out there they are risking their lives. I never see a rich fisherman in Tobago, all of them catching their 'nennen.' They have no excess money to deal with this unfortunate event of oil spill. They live day to day."

He chastised Augustine for taking advice from the International Oil Pollution Committee (IOPC) Fund manager who said that fishermen should apply to the IOPC directly.

At a January 24, 2025, media conference, Augustine said the THA was warned that it would not be refunded if it pays compensation to fisherfolk who do not meet the IOPC criteria.

Duke said, "There is no insurance company in the world could instruct a THA what to do. A government is a government. American (president Donald) Trump will tell you that. (China president) Xi Jinping will tell you that and Russia will tell you that.

"If he's calling himself the leader of Tobago government he must exercise such leadership over the people and stop exploiting poor people's children."

Douglas dismissed claims that ATFA was at war with the Tobago Unified Fisherfolk Association (TUFA). He said, "Fisherfolk are not in a war with anybody. The only war coming is on election day when allyuh ain't pay we, and fisherfolk say is out you have to go."

At last month's media conference, Augustine called on fisherfolk to be reasonable in their requests for compensation.

He said the restrictions on fishing in the area affected by the oil spill did not prevent fisherfolk from plying their trade elsewhere.

He also defended the THA's spending of $50 million it received from central government last June to deal with the oil spill.

"The priority can't be paying relief first then paying the contractors afterwards," he said.

The THA had asked the government for $153 million to handle the oil spill.

Augustine said the THA has racked up a bill of near $77 million and has paid $72.1 million, leaving it about $4.8 million in arrears.