The president-general of the Oilfield Workers Trade Union (OWTU), Ancel Roget, has taken a strong stance against what he calls misinformation spread by the government regarding former state oil company Petrotrin. Roget and other OWTU members have resorted to symbolic “burnings” as a form of protest at various locations in Trinidad and Tobago.
Having burned posters of Prime Minister, Energy Minister, and National Security Minister in earlier protests, Roget reiterated his intention to continue these acts every time the government spreads what he deems as false information. He emphasized that these burnings will be carried out in communities across the country to set the record straight.
One of the key points of contention for Roget and the OWTU is the meeting between Prime Minister Rowley and Indian businessman Naveen Jindal. This meeting, which took place on June 17, led to discussions about potential investment opportunities, particularly regarding the Petrotrin refinery. Despite the government’s assurance that no reasonable bids for the refinery have been received to date, Roget remains skeptical, rejecting claims that former Petrotrin workers have received land or stocks in the new entities formed after Petrotrin’s restructure.
Roget pointed to a Freedom of Information document received by the OWTU as evidence that no land has been provided to former Petrotrin employees as promised by the government. The Cabinet had approved a policy framework back in March 2020 for the distribution of residential lots and agricultural plots to terminated Petrotrin employees, with infrastructural work already underway at the Woodford Lodge site in Chaguanas.
As tensions continue to rise between the OWTU and the government, Roget remains steadfast in his commitment to holding officials accountable and ensuring that former Petrotrin workers receive what they have been promised.
