November 2, 2020

UNC Asks: “Did Government Ever Really Intend To Sell Petrotrin Refinery To OWTU?”

By Newsroom

Was the government’s offer for the Oilfield Worker’s Trade Union to acquire the Petrotrin Refinery a farce?

This was the question asked by Pointe-a-Pierre MP, Dr. David Lee, during the UNC’s Virtual Report on Monday night.

“And the proof is in the pudding, on Saturday when Minister Franklin Khan told this country after receiving their bid, 48 hours later they rejected the proposal,” Dr. Lee said, accusing government of creating a false opportunity for the union to purchase the refinery as an election gimmick for the August 10th general election.

He called on Finance Minister Colm Imbert to explain why the initial offer of a moratorium and concessions had been taken off the table for the Patriotic Energies and Technologies Company Limited, which is owned by the OWTU.

“After wasting months and meetings with the Patriotic, in an attempt to push out PETCL they moved the goal post again,” he said.

Earlier on Monday, Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley instructed a cabinet appointed Evaluation Committee to take a look at the proposals put forward by the negotiating parties regarding purchase of the Petrotrin refinery.

It came on the heels of OWTU head Ancel Roget calling for same after government revealed the union’s proposal had been rejected.

The Committee has been given roughly one month to look at the proposals and must submit a report by November 30th.

 

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