Ex-Petrotrin workers warn of brain drain

MONDAY was one of the saddest days for displaced Petrotrin worker and councillor for Cedros Shankar Teelucksingh as he woke up for the first time in 33 years without a job.

The situation was the same for thousands of former Petrotrin employees, including police officer Cpl Deosaran Moonesar, who had 16 years’ service, and Perrylal Sinanan, who was denied the chance to retire in the next five months from the company to which he gave his most productive years.

The three were among dozens who flooded the Board of Inland Revenue (BIR) office, Cipero Street, San Fernando on Monday morning to get proof that their tax returns were up to date so they could be reimbursed the 25 per cent deduction Petrotrin had made from their severance payment last Friday.

“It is a sad day. I was due to retire in May next year. Now the company has put us all on the breadline,” Sinanan said after collecting his tax return documents.

“No job to go to this morning. It is sad. But we have to live,” Moonesar said.

Teelucksingh warned that the closure of the state-owned company would create a further brain drain from TT as experienced people like him, who have been put on the breadline, would be looking to capitalise on opportunities overseas.

“I am thinking about leaving this country. I have a family to take care of, and my children, like so many other families, don’t have a future here.”

Teelucksingh said he was contemplating offers including one from Guyana, which is on the cusp of becoming a major player in the industry with the recent oil find there.

“I don’t know what would happen tomorrow when I wake up. I am praying that the good Lord move me in the right direction.

“I gave my blood, sweat and tears for this company. I started working here when I was 18 years old, as a mechanic helper, and continued to develop and work very hard to logistic supervisor, Trinmar operations.” He recalled working under a manager called Winston Millet who, he said, encouraged and motivated workers to bring production up to 45,000 barrels a day without drilling.

“Trinmar fields is the jewel of TT, and today it is disheartening to see the People’s National Movement (PNM) government stop drilling, stop workovers, shut in lucrative wells (such) as the Jubilee find, South West Soldado fields, for their own personal reasons.

“When I see what is happening today in terms of restructuring, which is really putting this crown jewel in the hands of their financiers and party friends, I am hurt.”

The United National Congress (UNC) councillor, who sits on the Siparia Regional Corporation, said he is afraid there could be disastrous outcomes, as inexperienced people would be operating the new companies in which Petrotrin’s assets have been vested.

He said on a normal Monday morning he would have been at his desk continuing to expedite, procure and package items for offshore installations, such as engine oil and spare parts, and checking and ensuring the timely delivery of items and transportation in the best interest of the company.

He said the former colleagues he has spoken to are all trying to cope, while workers at the National Petroleum Company are worried about their jobs.

“Now that the refinery is closed they are worried about what feedstock is going to NP to refine the lubes. They would have to import, and the question is whether we have the foreign exchange to import feed stock. We need to ask the Minister of Energy, Franklin Khan, what is going to happen to NP, how long it would survive. “

Teelucksingh said one of the good things that has come out of the closure of Petrotrin is that two heavily armed coast guard vessels are now stationed in the waters surrounding Trinmar’s offshore fields, and providing protection for fishermen who have been under attack by the Guardia Nacional.

However, he sounded a warning: “We are not too far from our neighbours in Venezuela who are suffering.”