Six years after the shutdown of state-owned Petrotrin, former employees, led by the Oilfield Workers’ Trade Union (OWTU), gathered outside the refinery on November 30 for a candlelight vigil, march, and rally to mark the anniversary. The march, which began at Tropical Plaza, culminated at the Pointe-a-Pierre Roundabout, near the refinery’s former administration building.
During the event, OWTU President General Ancel Roget condemned the 2018 closure of Petrotrin, calling it “the greatest crime” against the workers, the people of south Trinidad, and the nation. He emphasized that the refinery, a critical state asset, belonged to the citizens of Trinidad and Tobago and vowed that workers would soon return to reclaim it. Roget warned that any attempt to privatize or operate the refinery through unofficial means would face significant opposition.
Roget reflected on the historical significance of Petrotrin, describing it as the “breadbasket” of the nation, supporting not only its workers but also providing economic benefits to citizens across the country. He criticized the government’s decision to divide Petrotrin into four subsidiaries—Heritage Petroleum Company Ltd, Paria Fuel Trading Company Ltd, Guaracara Refinery Ltd, and Petrotrin EAP Services Ltd—while shutting down its refinery in 2018.
At the rally, Roget accused the government of demonizing workers, citing claims that carpenters at Petrotrin were earning excessive salaries, which contributed to public support for the refinery’s closure. He argued that the consequences of the shutdown reached far beyond the 5,000 affected workers, triggering widespread social and economic trauma throughout the country.
Roget also connected the closure of Petrotrin to the ongoing foreign exchange crisis, stating that the country is now experiencing a severe forex shortage due to the loss of a major foreign-exchange earner. He asserted that before the refinery’s closure, this issue did not exist.
In a scathing critique of government officials, Roget pointed fingers at Prime Minister Rowley, former energy minister Franklin Khan, and Finance Minister Colm Imbert for the closure and the resulting economic turmoil. He also denounced Rowley for accepting the Salaries Review Commission’s (SRC) recommendation for a 45.7% salary increase for himself and other top public officials, calling it hypocritical given the economic struggles facing the public.
Roget’s speech highlighted the disconnect between the political class and the citizens they represent, criticizing the government’s failure to uphold the standard of living for ordinary people while politicians continue to benefit from generous pay increases. He vowed that the OWTU would soon launch a nationwide education campaign about the ongoing impact of Petrotrin’s closure and mobilize for a mass protest rally in Port of Spain on December 7.
Related topic:
