The Trinidadian government has announced plans to honor longstanding land allocation agreements for former Petrotrin workers, mirroring previous commitments made to ex-employees of the defunct Caroni (1975) Ltd. The declaration came from Minister Ernesto Kesar of the Ministry of Energy and Energy Affairs during a November 30 gathering at Pointe-a-Pierre roundabout, where scores of former refinery workers and Oilfields Workers’ Trade Union (OWTU) members commemorated the seventh anniversary of the facility’s closure.
Minister Kesar revealed that while 2,814 former workers had applied for land parcels through the Land Settlement Agency under the previous administration, only 238 had received commitment letters without actual land transfers. The current government initiative aims to address this disparity by preparing a comprehensive report for Cabinet consideration that includes all permanent, temporary, and casual workers from Petrotrin’s 76,000-acre holdings.
In parallel developments, the government plans to reopen two vandalized medical facilities in Santa Flora and Guaracara within six months to serve former workers and their families. Kesar, who personally inspected the clinics, reported that while the Pointe-a-Pierre facility remains structurally sound with preserved medical records, the Santa Flora clinic requires significant rehabilitation due to severe vandalism.
OWTU President General Ancel Roget delivered impassioned remarks criticizing the previous administration, alleging that over 1,000 retirees died due to inability to access medical plans. Roget detailed occupational health crises among workers, including exposure to chemicals and extreme working conditions that led to renal failure and heart conditions.
The Rowley-led administration had previously cited economic challenges and declining profitability as reasons for the refinery’s 2018 closure. Following restructuring, Petrotrin became Trinidad Petroleum Holdings Ltd (TPHL) with four subsidiaries, though Roget emphasized that none currently recognize OWTU representation due to successorship issues—a matter now being addressed through parliamentary procedures by Labour Minister Leroy Baptiste.
The event also featured La Brea MP Clyde Elder, a former trade union leader, signaling broad governmental involvement in resolving these longstanding labor and social welfare issues.