Chair of the Oil Spill Relief Committee (OSRC), Allan Stewart, is urging Tobago fisherfolk and others affected by the February 7 oil spill to submit their claim forms for compensation by the end of the month. Stewart emphasized the importance of completing the forms promptly to kickstart the compensation process during a consultation at the Shaw Park Cultural Complex on July 18.
Representatives from the International Oil Pollution Compensation Fund (IOPC), Andrew Taylor, and Amanda Llanos, attended the consultation, providing stakeholders with essential information on submitting claims within three years of the spill.
Stewart, who is also the Tobago Emergency Management Agency director, highlighted the requirements for claimants, including a fisherman’s ID, proof of boat ownership, a vendor’s permit, and evidence of property and equipment damage. The OSRC, appointed by the THA, has been given three months to complete the compensation process under the Division of Food Security, Natural Resources, the Environment, and Sustainable Development.
Stewart emphasized the importance of accurately completing claim forms and providing all relevant information to support the claims for damage to property/equipment and loss of earnings. The IOPC’s Taylor emphasized the organization’s commitment to working seamlessly with the OSRC to ensure prompt and fair processing of claims.
It was reported that the $50 million funding promised by the Central Government to assist with expenses resulting from the oil spill has been received by the THA, as confirmed by Chief Secretary Farley Augustine on July 18. The spill, which originated from the overturned Gulfstream barge near Cove, has had a significant impact on Tobago’s fisherfolk and vendors, with losses exceeding $12 million as reported by the All Tobago Fisherfolk Association president Curtis Douglas.
