Trinidad cargo for Dragon LNG terminal
Image courtesy of Dragon LNG
The UK’s Dragon LNG terminal is scheduled to receive a cargo of liquefied natural gas from the Atlantic LNG export facility in Point Fortin.
Data from the Milford Haven Port Authority shows the 174,000-cbm Pan Asia LNG carrier scheduled to dock at the Dragon LNG facility on April 9.
The terminal at Waterston, Milford Haven in Pembrokeshire, owned by Shell (50 percent) and Petronas (50 percent), has a maximum gas send out rate to the NTS of 7.6 billion cubic meters of gas per annum. It can supply up to 10 percent of the UK’s energy needs.
The Pan Asia was built by the Chinese shipyard Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding for joint investors, CNOOC Energy Technology & Services Limited, Teekay, BW Group and China LNG Shipping to primarily transport LNG from the QCLNG project in Australia to China.
As energy security fears rise, Atlantic has a prosperous future in the booming LNG market and Trinidad gas must be diverted from melamine and other minor products to this low carbon energy with 20 percent less CO2 emissions when compared to industry benchmarks.
Capital expenditure for both LNG plant and upstream infrastructure will total more than $200 billion between 2019 and 2025, showing that the LNG book is back. This will provide a major boost to engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contractors and other providers along the supply chain. Trinidad must eschew short-term deals to retain LNG market share.
Top LNG buyer signs supply deal
Japan’s JERA signed an agreement with a Mitsubishi unit to buy as much as 1.2M mt/year of liquefied natural gas from the Royal Dutch Shell-led LNG Canada project. The heads of agreement is for ~15 years starting from April 2024, says JERA, a joint venture between Tokyo Electric Power and Chubu Electric Power and the world’s top buyer of liquefied natural gas. Buyers from the project so far include trading house Vitol as well as Asian utilities such as Tokyo Gas, Toho Gas and Korea Gas.
Trinidad looks to shorter-term LNG deals
Energy minister says Henry Hub index now irrelevant to it
Trinidad & Tobago is turning away from long-term liquefied natural gas deals in an effort to capture the “full value” of its gas resources.
14 years of gas
THE 2017 Ryder Scott Report stated gas reserves will last 14 years and seven months. While the report contains sensitive information which for commercial reasons cannot be disclosed, the Energy Minister promised an abridged version will be available.
In the audit from March 2018-August 2018, all three classes had increased since the year before. Proven reserves increased from 9.92 trillion cubic feet (tcf) to 10.52 tcf, up by six per cent. Probable reserves rose from 5.38 tcf to 6.13 tcf, up by 13 per cent. Possible reserves were up from 4.72 tcf to 5.39 tcf, up by 12 per cent.
Khan presumably totalled the proven (10.52 tcf) and probable (6.13 tcf) reserves and divided by an extraction rate of 1.14 tcf per year, to calculate how long the reserves would last.
“The reserves-to-production ratio, based on 2P reserves, which are the sum of the proved reserves and probable reserves, using a production rate of 1.14 tcf for 2017, was 14.6 years.” This period was an increase from 12.6 years, calculated the year before. “Year 2017 is the first year to reflect a year-on-year increase in reserves since 2004.”
Trinidad Petroleum Holding Co Ltd
Trinidad Petroleum is disassociating itself from a Reuters article claiming the company was renegotiating its debt. “..We have no responsibility (regarding) it. We are not in a position to give any information on our finances.” The company is restructuring and attempting to service its debt without a government guarantee.
The article suggested that the company, spawned from the ashes of Petrotrin, is in advanced debt restructuring talks with banks and secured new loans of up to US$1.4 billion, based on projected oil reserves, to ease the looming US$850 million bond due to mature in August. The report cited unnamed sources “familiar with the matter” and acknowledged that attempts to reach Trinidad Petroleum for comment were unanswered.
International investment banks Morgan Stanley, Credit Suisse, Panamanian trade bank Banco LatinoAmericano de Comercio Exterior (Bladex), and local lenders First Citizens Bank and Ansa Merchant Bank are arranging approximately US$1.2 billion -US$1.4 billion in loans to finance costs related to closing the refinery, severance pay for workers of nearly TT$2 billion and the bond.
Reuters claimed Trinidad Petroleum will secure financing with proven oil reserves as collateral, but government was reluctant to guarantee the funds because of the possible impact on its credit rating. Trinidad Petroleum secured working capital credit lines from local banks including Republic, and these short-term lines, valued between US$178 million and US$195 million in total, are guaranteed by the government.
Petrotrin and the government’s implicit guarantee of the company’s debt as a state enterprise, have been a constant weight on the country’s sovereign debt rating, although reports acknowledged attempts to restructure the company and its debt as moves in the right direction.
The article suggests that the government retained Scotiabank to oversee the sale of the refinery and possible bidders include mining giant Glencore, Canadian petroleum marketer Parkland and ExxonMobil, set to start commercial production from Guyana next year.
ENERGY Minister denies Paria Fuel Trading Company was up for sale to Parkland Fuel Corporation of Alberta, Canada. The minister said “there is no intention” for any such sale to Parkland.
“Paria Fuel Trading Company .. is not for sale. The … assets of Guaracara Refining Company has been put on the market for sale or lease., .. the refinery cannot operate.. without some access to the infrastructure that is owned by Paria, including the tank farms and the port. .. Paria’s assets will be a leveraging point in the negotiations for the sale of Guaracara.”
An invitation of requests for proposals has been sent.
“And we will be prejudging, we will be jumping ahead of the game, to forecast anything beyond that. These are sensitive commercial negotiations. As a country, this has happened with Sandals, we cannot ‘take in front’ and stymie the process. These are international players. Transparency and robustness in the process is very important. ”
Khan listed the expenditure of Paria on imports of refined fuels and the earnings of Heritage Petroleum Company on its crude oil exports. For December 2018 Heritage had earned US$38 million and for January 2019 earned US$64 million, both totalling US$102 million or TT$700 million. Paria had spent US$61 million for the period of December 2018 to January 2019. These imports were diesel (US$9.8 million and US$10.6 million), super (US$14 million and US$14.2 million), premium (US$2.1 million and US$2.0 million) and jet fuel (zero and US$8.2 million.) Half of Paria’s imports were for re-export in the region and, as a result, earning foreign exchange.
Khan listed dividends from Phoenix Park Gas Processors, in each case of which 51 per cent or just over half was paid to the National Gas Company (NGC.). For 2015, these figures were US$20 million dividends and US$10.2 million to the NGC. For 2016 it was respectively US$70 million and US$35.7 million. For 2017 it was US$69 million and US$35.1 million, while for 2018 it was US$76 million and US$38.8 million, respectively.
Government did not touch money sent to the NGC.
Don’t sell Petrotrin assets
OPPOSITION Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar distanced the United National Congress (UNC) from an online claim that the Paria Fuel Trading Company had been sold. She accused the Government of using the fake news to deflect public attention from the company’s fate.
“The viral spread of the ‘Paria has been sold’ image was not linked with, nor was it an act of the United National Congress. The Government has absolutely no evidence on which to base their claims.”
Government’s accusations against the Opposition were dishonest and reflected a guilty conscience that betrayed the trust and hopes of citizens over Petrotrin. Government was incompetent and insensitive to the pain and devastation that the sell-off of the industry had caused families and communities. Government believes if they wrongfully blame the Opposition for mischief this would distract citizens from an upcoming give away of Petrotrin assets to Government’s financiers and friends.
“It is time this Rowley Government ends its secrecy on the state of affairs of Trinidad Petroleum Holding Company. It is time this Government places all transactions relating to these assets in the public domain for national scrutiny.”
She accused the Government of operating in a mode of deception over Petrotrin from the start. “During the address on September 2nd 2018 entitled Reinventing Petrotrin, Prime Minister Rowley never mentioned the closure of the state company but instead committed that it was ‘the Government’s vision for Petrotrin to be profitable and internationally competitive and a leader in the local energy sector, an employer of choice and a source of national pride.’”
The board was developing a model for Petrotrin designed specifically to manage its assets to yield the most value. “Six months later, this is not the case. They have destroyed Petrotrin’s operations and the assets which they promised to manage in a manner that yields the most for our country, are now at risk of being sold off without proper checks and balances.”
Any sale of Petrotrin assets must be decided by its real owners, the citizens. “Consequently, this administration must stop the sale of all assets until the elections have been decided and more so, after the people via these elections have decided if they want the assets sold. The Opposition will never support the spread of misinformation as is often peddled by this Government. We will continue to demand accountability and transparency on behalf of our citizens given the hardship and dishonesty that is being dished out to them on a daily basis by this .. Regime.”
Trinidad Petroleum Holding Ltd
TPHL stated that the process for inviting, receiving and assessing proposals for TPHL’s refinery assets is in train and TPHL has only sought expressions of interest from potentially interested parties.
Outlining the steps completed, the release stated that on March 11 TPHL issued an overview of the assets and non-disclosure agreements to 58 potentially interested bidders, asking them to indicate their interest. The company is currently at the stage of receiving such expressions of interest and entering into confidentiality agreements with those parties that wish to proceed further. TPHL stated that the process is at a preliminary stage and still ongoing.
“We… ask that the process be allowed to take its course,” PFTC said. PFTC is one of four bureaucracies evolving from Petrotrin, with a mandate to supply fuel to the domestic and Caricom market. TPHL announced recently that two Requests For Proposals (RFP) were issued for the refinery and the fuel company. After vowing that the creation of the company was in the country’s best interest last August, TPHL said it made no sense for the State to operate a business that supplies fuel to the local and regional market. The Energy Minister said divestment of the company was not within the current mandate given by the Government. TPHL was directed to withdraw and retract any advertisement of the RFP that “may have been inadvertently issued for the sale” of the company. Although the Government had taken no position to sell the State company, its sale will be considered if there is a good bid.
“We have not got the proposals as yet, so why should we close the door on a proposal that we have not seen…somewhere there might be someone who sees Pointe-a-Pierre as their gold mine.”
TRAGIC TRINIDAD & TOBAGO
Minister of Trade and Industry Paula Gopee-Scoon, third from right, with, from left, Nicholas Lok Jack, executive director, Asscoiated Brands Industries Ltd; Richard Seeteram, head of Supply and Chain for the Anglo-Dutch Caribbean, Nestle; Joel Pemberton, CEO, DeNovo Energy Ltd; newly elected president of the TT Manufacturers’ Association (TTMA) Franka Costelloe; Gregory Hannays, partner, Ernst and Young; and Karen Darbasie, group CEO First Citizens Bank at TTMA’s AGM Business Breakfast meeting yesterday, at the Hilton Trinidad and Conference Centre, Port-of-Spain.
The Trade and Industry Minister said, “We are out of the recession. We have had some small growth for 2018.” Government was hoping to build on that growth this year. Manufacturing contributed just over over $32 billion to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
In the 2018 budget, the Finance Minister said the economy was projected to grow by 1.9 per cent last year. “We are not out of the woods yet and our economy is still vulnerable to external shocks.” The 2018 Review of the Economy supported his statement about 1.9 per cent growth in 2018. Energy sector contribution to GDP was 38.2, 37.8 , 36.6 , 35.3, 35.9 and 36.1 per cent from 2013 to 2018, respectively. Non-energy sector contribution to GDP over the same period was 60.3, 61, 61.3, 63.4, 62.8 and 61.7 per cent respectively. Manufacturing, one of seven leading contributors to economic growth in 2018 was expected to grow by 7.3 per cent last year but the sector declined by 7.7 per cent since 2015.
In its last monetary policy report on March 29, the Central Bank said recovery in the energy sector continued into the final quarter of 2018. Non-energy production showed a 26.7 per cent increase in the final quarter of 2018, in food manufacturing, beverages and tobacco. Retail sales and new car registrations were signs of increased non-energy activity from the end of 2018 into early 2019. Acceleration of public sector works would have an impact on investment in the coming quarters.
Former trade minister V. Bharath said despite some growth, it was premature to say the country is out of recession. While Government was anticipating one per cent growth this year, the International Monetary Fund and World Bank were projecting lower growth. There is “nothing on the horizon” to encourage sustainable economic growth. The economic impact of the closure of Petrotrin had not been assessed .
After the launch of the first Tech Hub Islands Summit, AMERICAN Chamber of Commerce (Amcham) CEO N. Tewarie agreed that recession was over. “The projections are that the country would have returned to growth last year.” This happened “largely on the back of higher gas production.” From Amcham’s perspective, “The issue to us is not whether we are in a recession or marginally out of it.”
With growth “back to levels we were seeing ten years ago in terms of our GDP,” the priority was to “catalyse the development of additional industries.” That was one of the objectives of the summit, which takes place in June and will be an annual event. The energy sector would continue to provide the base for the country to grow in other sectors.
Steps such as reforming the business environment, passing laws more quickly, attracting investment from “the very liquid local market” and foreign direct investment could strengthen the economy. The summit could significantly improve the technology industry.
The Chamber of Industry and Commerce CEO G. Faria agreed there was some growth on a macro-economic level, resulting in the generation of business activities and consumer spending. So far, the trickle down effect of this growth to the ordinary citizen had not been seen. The chamber remains “cautiously optimistic” that this would happen.
While the country faces economic headwinds, managing director of Bourse Securities, S. Ramkhelawan noted a new structure to the economy with lower government revenues and a reduced Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The non-energy sector, was struggling as manufacturers were net users of foreign exchange, except those in the beverage and snacks sub-sectors.
Manufacturers need to move downstream of the energy sector, the only driver of the economy which was supposed to grow by 6 per cent in 2018 and 2019 by 2.4 per cent according to the International Monetary Fund. “We are better off in the energy sector in terms of gas. We are not out of the woods .. .the non-energy sector ,, is highly dependent on ..the energy sector – in terms of sales, .. distribution, .. services.”
Significant decline in government expenditure has an impact on the economy. If government revenues and government expenditure fall, it feeds right across the economy because government is a very significant spender. Citizens are coming to grips with adjustments in the economy but confidence remains low. Of two types of capital expenditure (capex), one is infrastructural and the other is revenue generating. “We are not seeing any kind of capex directly focused on the generation of revenue.”
Pandemic of Poor Performance
Over 55,000 jobs vanished under this government. The positive energy projects from 2010 to 2015, TROC, Juniper, a harvest from the long-time horizons in the upstream sector, were cited in Central Bank economic bulletins which show proper management of energy resources from 2010 to 2015. Accusing BPTT of attacking arrangements, the regime is not prepared to facilitate energy sector development, with a misplaced focus on a failed Dragon gas deal and direct involvement in gas price negotiations leading to conflicts with local gas users. Shortfall in forex reserves with 8.5 months import cover means manufacturers and others struggle to do business.
United National Congress will facilitate wider development of the economy through 12 key prosperity initiatives for the creation of growth poles across the country. Manufacturing will be incentivised to be a contributor to economic gains. The East-West Corridor will benefit as a growth pole focusing on renewable energy at Tamana, a Biotech manufacturing zone and an aero park at Piarco.
Jobs will be created in line with demands of the technologically advanced global marketplace of the fourth industrial revolution. A new zone from Manzanilla to Rio Claro, Guayaguayare and Mayaro will build projects in tourism, agriculture and maritime and port development. A highway from San Fernando to Mayaro will open the southeast.
GHG can be cut by replacing unethical tobacco with sustainable tree fruit crops and diverting alcohol to biofuel. Exports of 5051 MT of melamine in 2019 can be reduced by divesting this luxury and diverting gas to LNG.
ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT WITH UNITED KINGDOM
Regardless of the Brexit outcome, Trinidad and Tobago will continue to enjoy preferential trade arrangements with the United Kingdom. This was the assurance given by the UK Minister of Trade Policy, George Hollingbery, when he and High Commissioner Orville London signed the Economic Partnership Agreement between CARIFORUM and the United Kingdom, at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London, on April 01.
London was authorised to sign on behalf of the Government of Trinidad and Tobago, after Cabinet approved the agreement at its regular meeting on March 28. Even if the United Kingdom leaves the European Union, “local businesses will continue to benefit from the duty-free exports of goods and the preferential treatment of services exports to the United Kingdom”.
The agreement eliminates all tariffs on all goods imported from the signing CARIFORUM states into the UK, while those Caribbean states will continue gradually to cut import tariffs on most of the region’s imports from the UK. Hollingbery said “we have a long-standing commitment to reduce poverty through trade, and this agreement will support jobs in key Commonwealth countries such as St Lucia, Belize, Grenada, Dominica, Barbados and Guyana for whom the UK currently accounts for more than a quarter of their trade in goods with the EU”.
During the first ten months of 2018, Trinidad and Tobago recorded $TT 560 million dollars in exports to the United Kingdom, including methanol, liquefied natural gas, articles of iron and steel, aromatic bitters, rum, beer, cereals, curry and shandy. Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia and St Vincent and the Grenadines are the Caricom countries which signed the agreement on March 22.
WATER-ENERGY NEXUS
Water Supply Status- WASA
The Water and Sewerage Authority (the Authority) reports a harsh Dry Season, as forecast by the Trinidad & Tobago Meteorological Service (TTMS) in November 2018. Recorded rainfall was significantly below normal and this trend continued each month with below average rainfall levels. During the first three (3) months of 2019, the rainfall deficits at tmajor treatment facilities in relation to Long Term Averages (LTAs) for this period were 21% at Arena, 46% at Navet, 49% at Hollis, 40% at Hillsborough and 60% at North Oropouche. This trend has maintained through to 22nd April, 2019 with actual rainfall only 38% of the monthly average at Arena, 36% at Navet, 58% at Hollis, 142% at Hillsborough and 60% at North Oropouche. Forecast for May 2019 indicates rainfall deficits of 32% at Arena, 50% at Navet, 43% at Hollis, 54% at Hillsborough, and 35% at North Oropouche.
60% of daily water production is derived from surface water sources. WASA factored worst case scenarios into its Water Supply Management Plan for the Dry Season and detailed components to manage water resources through the harsh dry period; which is involves supply management, unaccounted for water i.e. leaks and illegal connections, and demand management, ensuring the availability and the equitable distribution of resources.
Ongoing harsh dry conditions significantly impacted water production at surface water treatment plants , resulting in a deficit of 30 million gallons per day (mgd) in water availability for distribution. Customers continue to experience problems in receiving a regular supply. WASA works with local government and other representatives to provide truck borne deliveries to supplement pipe borne supply.
Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology
Drought in the region is expected to continue into the wet season as weak El Niño conditions persist. In its latest Caribbean Climate Outlooks bulletin, CIMH sad that for the period May to July recurrent dry spells are forecast, except for the Windward Islands and Guianas. More frequent wet spells throughout the region, except in the ABC Islands (Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao) may bring drought relief, but also concern for flooding potential. Severe “or worse” drought developed in Antigua, Aruba, Barbados, Belize, French Guiana, northern Guyana, Martinique, St. Kitts, and Trinidad in the short term.
AMERICAN ARKS
: Ambassdor Mondello and one of the four inflatable lifeboats the USA donated to Tunapuna/Piarco Corporation
SAIL AWAY: US Ambassdor to TT Joseph Mondello and La Horquetta/Talparo MP Maxie Cuffie inspect one of the four inflatable boats donated to the Tunapuna/Piarco Regional Corporation yesterday.: US Ambassador to TT, Joseph Mondello, supports the migrant framework policy of government to regulate and assist Venezuelans living in TT.
At a family day organised by the US Embassy and the Tunapuna/ Piarco Regional Corporation at La Horquetta, Mondello said,“The only thoughts I have on this is, whatever the policy is of the Trinidadian government is the policy that should be followed. There are intelligent, hardworking ministers who put their full time into trying to get the answers for the problems affecting their country, so I would be loath to second guess any of the decisions made by any of the ministers of Parliament.”
The policy seeks to register Venezuelan immigrants, both legal and illegal, in TT allowing them to work for one year and receive basic health care. Registration is open from May 31 to June 14.
The fun day also served as a handing over ceremony for four inflatable boats donated to the corporation from the embassy, to assist in flood preparedness and response in the community.
Councillors recalled the fear and uncertainty during 2018 floods and thanked the embassy for the boats. The chairman of the corporation was grateful for the donation and recalled the courage of residents helping neighbours. He intends to nominate four young men to receive President’s medals for gallantry for rescuing flood victims.
“We recognise that while it may be unlikely that we see that kind of weather ever again, we want to take every precaution. We are part of an initiative now to upgrade the community centre to ensure we have proper showers and space to accommodate those during a time of crisis.”
Prevention is better than cure, with focus on maintaining rivers, fixing leaks and housing rural residents.
HUMANITARIANS vs BUREAUCRATS
In 2017-2018 ECO delivered 3 lifeboats to corporations in Penal, Tunapuna and Mayaro after authorities failed to respond to pleas for rescue from villages and farms across the iconic Caroni Plain and in historic oilfields of the strategic Southern Basin while the Red Cross focus was on Greenvale. Despite ODPM funds of TT20 million and USD10 million in international aid, simple mitigation measures including water butts are lacking and drought is destroying crops, livestock and lives of the owners, rural underdogs since 1962.
Epic annual biblical floods
(Trinidad and Tobago: Floods Emergency Plan of Action (EPoA) DREF n° MDRTT001
REPORT from International Federation of Red Cross And Red Crescent Societies Published on 29 Oct 2018 —View Original Download PDF (812.13 KB)
A. Situation analysis. Summary of the disaster
On Tuesday, 16 October 2018, the Trinidad and Tobago Meteorological Office (TTMS) issued an Adverse Weather Alert (Yellow Level) that predicted showers and thunderstorms due to the presence of an Inter-Tropical Convergent Zone (ITCZ); the warning was in place from Wednesday, 17 to Friday to 19 October. On 18 October, the TTMS upgraded the alert to Orange Level, as the ITCZ continued to produce intermittent periods of rainfall and thunderstorms. Late Thursday, 18 October, the TTMS issued a Riverine Flood Alert (Red Level), as river levels exceeded threshold levels and some overflowed their banks. Since additional rainfall was forecasted, river levels were expected to remain elevated for the next several days.
On Friday, 19 October, Piarco International Airport was closed for several hours, as the weather made it impossible for aircraft to land and surrounding roadways were flooded. The ODPM issued Public Advisory #8 at 2031 hours, which alerted the TTRCS Disaster Management system of an ongoing life-threatening operation in the Greenvale Park community of La Horquetta, where residents were stranded on roofs due to the rapid onset of floodwaters.
On Saturday, 20 October a national newspaper, Trinidad Express, described the floods as ‘catastrophic’ and the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) advised that the main north-south highway was impassable; nevertheless, the president did not issue an official national disaster declaration in accordance with the Disaster Measures Act. Persistent rainfall caused flooding in approximately 80 per cent of the country, primarily the north, east and central parts of the island nation such as Sangre Grande, Matelot, La Horquetta, St. Helena, Caroni and Mayaro. There are reports from ODPM and CDEMA’s Situation Report #1 that the flooding has impacted 100,000 to 150,000 people. Additionally, official reports from ODPM and CDEMA indicate that 800 people sought shelter in collective centres during the peak of the emergency; however, the colletive centre population is decreasing as affected people return home to begin the cleanup process.
Summary of the current response
Overview of Host National [Red Cross] Society
On 19 October 2018, the TTRCS mobilized an 11-member team of responders, which included shelter management, psychosocial support (PSS), medical and coordination specialists, to conduct an initial assessment and provide medical support in the event of injuries during any rescue operations. Upon arrival in the community of La Horquetta, the team had to transition from assessment to response mode because rescued residents were being housed at a multipurpose sporting complex and a primary school approximately one mile from the impacted zone. The deployed TTRCS personnel engaged in shelter support to ensure that proper emergency shelter procedures were implemented, such as the registration of residents, dormitory management and that the affected population’s psychosocial needs were met; the situation was exacerbated by the many children who had become separated from their parents due to the emergency.
The TTRCS’s medical team and the two ambulances it had at its disposal supported the National Society’s rescue operations through the transportation of injured people to health facilities and the evacuation of persons with special needs; the team also conducted a rapid medical evaluation of the rescued people, who had been stranded for several hours and partially submerged in floodwaters during that time in many cases.
The TTRCS also addressed the basic needs of residents who had been marooned outside the flooded community and waited for up to eighteen hours to return to their community through the provision of blankets and water.
Thus far, the TTRCS has deployed the following resources to support the emergency operation:
• 2 ambulances
• 3 support vehicles
• Over 40 volunteers (trained in PSS, shelter management, emergency medical response and first aid)
• In the affected areas, the TTRCS is assisting with the management of one large emergency evacuation centre, which had 77 residents as of 23 October 2018
• The provision of ambulance service to the collective centres and the affected communities
• Support on evacuations and the rescue of affected people
• Provision of PSS to affected community members
• Coordinating the collection and delivery of relief supplies
The TTRCS will conduct detailed damage assessments as flood waters recede; the National Society is currently conducting rapid community level assessments, and it has already assessed the following villages: Kelly Village, Saint Helena, Madras Road, Cumuto, Sangre Grande, Valencia, Rio Claro,
On 23 October 2018 the Red Cross reported-
After more than 48hrs of consistent rainfall , Trinidad experienced catastrophic flooding, forcing the government to declare a national disaster. 150,000 people have been affected with numbers expected to increase as detailed assessments are conducted.
The TTRCS provided ambulances to assist with the transport of injured and special needs residents as well as tended to the injuries of first responders. Blankets were distributed to persons stuck in their cars on the highway. The TTRCS deployed its disaster response team to one of the affected areas where two shelters were established, one in La Horquetta Regional Complex and the other at La Horquetta South Primary School.
Two shelters have already been installed and three additional shelters are planned to be opened in La Horquetta North Primary School and in the neighbouring district of Malabar Community Centre and Calvary Centre. At the time of this report the La Horquetta North Primary School is ready to be activated as a shelter. As the needs increase the other two centres will be mobilized.
Jill De Bourg, President of the Trinidad and Tobago Red Cross, visited the devastated Greenvale, La Horquetta community on Sunday 21st October. “I really feel for the families who have been displaced and who have experienced significant loss but what was wonderful to see today especially and since the flood happened on Friday was the power of humanity, the power of people, the power of giving. The outpouring of support, the outpouring of persons being present. A Red Cross team of volunteers and staff has been on the ground with the relief efforts from Friday night and have been going non-stop. They continue to serve selflessly and with a level of commitment that’s really commendable.”
The International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) representative in Trinidad & Tobago, indicated, “Everything is well managed, from food, water, clothes distribution to waste management and even medical needs, they are all quite well managed. The shelters will be running for at least two weeks. In the coming days the IFRC will be looking into ways to help the TTRCS conduct the needs assessments”.
The TTRCS will continue to be active in shelter support, ambulance support and psychosocial support to the affected population.)
The European Union gave Technical Assistance to the Environment Programme. Listed as the most vulnerable communities are historic oilfields, farms, hotels, beauty spots, universities, ports and the iconic capital – Claxton Bay, Tunapuna-Piarco, Penal/Debe, Couva/Talparo, Siparia, Port of Spain, Sangre Grande, Mayaro, Guayaguayare, Manzanilla.
ODPM withheld relief, driving humanitarians including UK diaspora to volunteer lifeboats to prevent corpses floating in floods. Rolling in international aid , the regime splashed $142 million on carnival 2019 and gave more arable land to a cult for a cathedral as murders rose to 167 in April. Chaired by an ex MP, National Carnival Commission owes debt of $78 million for two years. Clearly the state cannot manage money.
The Non Profit Organisations Bill 2019 launched a register of NGOs threatening faith groups and other charities opening wallets to help neglected citizens. This may stymie plans to halt shocking crimes,
The US peace offering can compensate for exclusion from the Palm Beach Party on energy and investment, a debacle witrh hallmarks of the condemned Caribbean Commission, failed WI Federation and constrained Caricom, doomed as its dead predecessors, dissolving in the bolivarian inferno.
10 days late, the 7-island archipelago signed the agreement of 22 March for continuity in the trade relationship between the UK and CARIFORUM States. although quislings spent time and taxes in Washington and Uruguay. to support a despotic kleptocrat. The Commonwealth crumbles under supine subsaharan slugs, succumbing to scandal and sin, surviving on aid from foreign taxpayers amid a bonanza of minerals and other resources being handed to totalitarians.
The USA, EU and UK, taken for granted, must be given priority as key partners for development and security,
Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago economic factsheet