NiQuan: Report on accident, death of worker, private & confidential
NiQuan Energy plant in Pointe-a-Pierre. Photo: niquanenergy.com –
NiQuan Energy Trinidad Ltd. has said that any report on the investigation into the death of Allan Lane Ramkissoon will be private and confidential and cannot be published.
Malcolm Wells, vice president of corporate affairs, said NiQuan will communicate an appropriate synopsis of the findings.
Wells said Ramkissoon was an employee of Massy Energy Engineered Solutions Ltd (MEES) and that it would be premature to disclose matters regarding his family. He repeated expressions of sorrow to the family and regret for the unexpected tragedy.
Ramkissoon’s family has been seeking answers for events that led to his death after being burnt in a flashfire at the NiQuan plant located on the compound of the closed Petrotrin refinery in Pointe-a-Pierre.
Investigations have begun by both the Occupational Safety and Health Agency (OSHA) and the Ministry of Energy. The ministry appointed a team to investigate the June 15 incident in which Ramkissoon, a pipe-fitter with MEES, was exposed to chemicals resulting in severe burns to his body.
He was flown to Colombia for treatment, but the father of two died on June 18 – Father’s Day. Wells said he was flown to Colombia as opposed to the US which is closer to TT, due to immigration requirements. Medical care for the injured worker was arranged by his employer, MEES.
NiQuan was served a shutdown notice by OSHA during the investigation . The Energy Chamber and American Chamber of Commerce welcomed the investigation and urged that there be a detailed, expeditious and timely sharing of its findings.
“The safety of every employee remains a critical priority for the industry, and we hope that the outcome of the investigation will be used to enhance safety policies and practices to avoid such tragedies in the future,” the Energy Chamber said .
Wells said all details regarding this unfortunate incident are being investigated by NiQuan, MEES and the relevant regulatory bodies and until the conclusion of that process, nothing further can be disclosed.
Wells said NiQuan operates in complete compliance with its statutory obligations under the Occupational Safety and Health Act and all applicable laws and regulations local and international.
Couva South MP Rudy Indarsingh said it was unfortunate that Ramkissoon died on Father’s Day and hours before the s workers gathered at Fyzabad on Labour Day.
Allan Lane Ramkissoon
He demanded clear and immediate answers to the many concerns raised, including the safety of the plant. Expressing condolences to the family, Indarsingh said the reports that Ramkissoon came into contact with a faulty pipeline that spewed flammable naphtha liquid on him raised many questions.
Among them was the date of the last job-site inspection for leaks, its outcome and any report that can verify that such pipelines were approved as being of “sound integrity.”
Indarsingh questioned the functionality of fire extinguishers, sprinkler systems and fire escapes as required by OSHA and why there was no indication that such were used to reach Ramkissoon or to extinguish the flames. He said there must be clarity about reports that an ambulance arrived three hours after being called and what medical institution the injured worker was taken to for immediate treatment.
Energy Minister Stuart Young is seeking advice as to whether the report of an explosion at the NiQuan plant in 2021 can be made public because it is a private institution. There have been renewed calls for public disclosure of this report since the June 15 incident and Ramkissoon’s death.
Indarsingh called on the Prime Minister to state and make public the advice that he received that the report into the 2021 NiQuan explosion could, or should not be made public because it was a private entity.
“On whose advice did the Prime Minister keep this report concealed and what was the reason for so doing? Why the cover up? We must recall that this is the same NiQuan plant which was purchased by a PNM government – in which Dr Rowley sat – under the authority of then chairman of Petrotrin Malcolm Jones.”
The Prime Minister told Parliament legal factors would determine if the 2021 report could be published, as well as the findings of the latest investigations by state agencies.
In 2018, NiQuan paid Petrotrin US$10 million cash for the plant and US$25 million to be paid in preference shares. Petrotrin’s assets are now under Trinidad Petroleum Holdings Co Ltd, since it was restructured when the refinery was closed.
Pointe-a-Pierre MP demands NiQuan report
26 Jun
Opposition United National Congress (UNC) member and Pointe-a-Pierre MP David Lee rejected the Prime Minister’s comments on the release of a NiQuan Energy Trinidad Ltd accident report that he said was protected because NiQuan was a private entity.
Lee was referring to an expected report on an investigation into a fire at the gas-to-liquids plant owned by NiQuan in Point-a-Pierre on June 15. Massy Energy Engineered Solutions employee Allan Lane Ramkissoon died on June 18 after being injured in the incident. The Energy Ministry and the Occupational Safety and Health Agency (OSHA) launched probes.
In Parliament Lee asked Dr Rowley if Ramkissoon’s family would be able to access the report. The PM replied such reports were guided by commercial and legal controls.
“It all depends on what the report is and whose report it is. But once the circumstances and the legal authorities permit, then the relevant minister would make that commitment. I would not presume to make it. “If it can be made public under the specific authorities, then it will be. If it’s a report coming from the company, then of course, we have constraints.”
In response to questions NiQuan said, “Any reports will be private and confidential and cannot be published. However, we will be able to communicate a synopsis of the findings as appropriate.”
At a UNC media briefing, Lee claimed multiple times that the NiQuan plant was a government entity because it was built by taxpayers’ money.
Billions of tax dollars were spent to build the gas-to-liquid plant at Petrotrin, placing Petrotrin in severe debt before it was sold at a peppercorn rate to NiQuan by this government.
Lee also claimed that the natural gas supplied to the NiQuan plant was approved by the government to come from the Energy Minister’s “share of natural gas. As a matter of fact, this government created a new company called the TT Upstream, Downstream Gas Co just to sell NiQuan gas.”
Lee blamed government for overcharging for fuel. Retail fuel prices should have decreased, as promised by the Prime Minister in the budget debate last October, based on a decrease in global oil prices.
“The Minister of Finance and Prime Minister have failed to respond, acknowledge or even refute our claims that citizens are being overcharged for ..fuel, because they know we are correct. We are three months away from the budget, and I want the population to remember that during the last budget the government raised the price of fuel for a sixth time.”
Fuel prices are currently $7.75 for premium, $6.97 for super and $4.41 for diesel, prices set by Finance Minister Colm Imbert when he said oil was still US$90. A barrel of oil now costs US$81, according to Wall Street, and seeing this, Lee asked why the prices have not decreased yet.
Pipe fitter suffers burns at NiQuan plant
18 June
An Opposition MP urged closure of NiQuan Energy gas-to-liquids (GTL) plant for an investigation into its operations after an accident at the Pointe-a-Pierre facility left a worker nursing serious burns.
The injured employee of Massy Energy Engineered Solutions Ltd (MEES), was assigned to NiQuan Energy Trinidad Ltd. UNC Pointe-a-Pierre MP David Lee said Ramkissoon suffered burns over 40 per cent in an incident at the plant
“I understand he went to investigate an incident and a particular gas was sprayed on him and that is how he got burned.”
Lee said the injured man will be flown to a burns unit in Florida for medical treatment. Through an advertising agency, NiQuan confirmed an incident at its Pointe-a-Pierre plant, resulting in the injury of the MEES employee assigned to the company. The injured person was in stable condition and receiving medical attention. Niquan board and executive team deeply regretted the incident and sent best wishes for the “fullest and speediest recovery” to the injured worker. NiQuan was co-operating with MEES to investigate the incident and report to the relevant agencies.
Massy Group CEO Gervais Warner is in Ghana. In a message similar to that sent by NiQuan, MEES confirmed one of its employees was involved in an incident and was immediately treated at a health facility. MEES said its employee is currently receiving specialised medical care and support is being provided to him and to his family.
“MEES has complied with all statutory notification procedures, and we are in communication with the team at NiQuan as they investigate the incident.”
An angry Lee said he was told that around 1 am on 15 June, there was a fire on the fractionation column, in the same area where there was an explosion in April 2021. The plant was shut down and restarted in April 2022. Pointe-a-Pierre residents expressed concerns about the reopening.
In response to questions from Lee in the Parliament last June, the Prime Minister said the Ministry of Energy gave NiQuan approval to reintroduce natural gas to the facility for the primary purpose of lighting the flare pilot burners and producing medium-pressure steam using the auxiliary boilers for cleaning lines after the shutdown of the facility on April 7, 2021
Lee, UNC shadow minister for energy, made repeated calls for the findings of a report into the initial explosion to be made public. The Energy Ministry, the Occupational Safety and Health Authority & Agency and other state agencies made inquiries after the explosion.
Lee expressed concerns again, on Saturday about the safety of the state asset and former Petrotrin refinery, on which the plant is located, as well as that of the surrounding communities.
“I keep asking as the MP for Pointe-a-Pierre, I have filed questions to the PM and the Minister of Energy to lay that report in Parliament and they keep hiding from laying that report. I even asked for it to be brought to the energy committee of the JSC … I do not know what they have to hide. No one can say up to now what was the cause of that explosion. The public must be informed, especially given the safety concerns of the people who live in that area. There are also a lot of labour issues on that plant.”
Apart from the 2021 incident, Lee said there have been too many small incidents at NiQuan, which warrants a proper investigation.
“NiQuan is on our state asset, not on its own private land. That is a taxpayers’ asset and if there is a blast, that could affect everything in that area. Niquan is getting subsidised gas from the state, but it has not shown any profitability for this country. There are too many safety issues at this plant and once again, I am asking the MOE and OSHA to shut down the plant while they do a proper investigation.”
In March 2021, the NiQuan plant opened and was hailed as the first of its kind in the western hemisphere. At a private ceremony, the Prime Minister said the project, once “plagued by delays and cost overrun,” would aid the post-pandemic economy.
Niquan then said the plant has a 2,400-barrel capacity and produces “high-performance, low-emissions energy products GTL Paraffinic Diesel and GTL Naphtha from natural gas.”
Paria profit up 58.8%
2023 06/27
State-owned Paria Fuel Trading Ltd declared after-tax profit of $257.3 million for the financial year ended September 30, 2022, a 58.8 per cent increase over the $162 million the company reported in its 2021 financial year.
The company reported an 80.6 per cent increase in its revenue from contracts with customers, which jumped to $14.1 billion in its 2022 financial year from $7.8 billion in 2021.
Paria said that of the total of 15.2 million barrels of product sold, some 7.3 million barrels were supplied to the local market for the period ending September 30, 2022. That compares to 14.5 million barrels of product sold in the 12-month period ending September 30, 2021, of which 6.5 million barrels was sold on the local market.
In his report accompanying Paria’s audit, chairman, Newman George, said its performance was “driven by increasing prices on the international market.”
He said, “Effective cost management measures, operational efficiencies and favourable market conditions enabled the company to generate a profit for the year of $257 million.”
The company also reported that its cash balances at the end of September 30, 2022 amounted to $836.9 million. Cash flows generated from operating activities for its 2022 financial year totalled $292.9 million.
The notes to the financials indicate that Paria is a guarantor of a new Heritage Petroleum US$500 million bond and a new US$475 million Heritage term loan.
Paria was established in October 2018, following the Government decision to close the Pointe-a-Pierre refinery.
Labour Day at 50 amid change
2023 marks 50 years since Labour Day became a holiday.
While June 19 remained a fixture on the national calendar, what that date represents has changed profoundly over the past five decades and the change has recently accelerated. The labour movement played a key role in the energy industry. Historic developments from the 1930s to 1970s followed mobilisation of workers and trade unionism led by figures such as Butler, Rienzi, Cipriani and others.
This movement had a vital impact on the advancement of a range of causes, but failed to transcend divisions within society and never emerged as a cohesive political or ideological force. The evidence of this is the cyclical nature of trade union influence which has been waning in recent decades. and is now at a low point.
Collapse of tripartism, closure of key state entities, globalisation and the deepening of state power have upended old modes of mobilisation. Accelerated by the pandemic mobilisation became more difficult as the nature of work changed.
The failure of labour to move beyond a focus on the minimum wage and attain a living wage for workers is one of the biggest impediments to its relevance.
President Christine Kangaloo in her Labour Day address, noted the workplace is now defined by work-from-home and hybrid work arrangements; virtual meetings; and the advent of artificial intelligence.
Legislation like the Industrial Relations Act long started to show the signs of being outmoded and ill-suited to contemporary realities. Perennial questions are asked about systems and procedures relating to the Industrial Court and about the designation of essential services, for better or worse.
There have been gaps in the many advancements secured by labour over the years. Discussion of anti-discrimination measures often failed to reflect the growing understanding of the need to protect workers rights.
If labour is meant to be one of the shields against the excesses of the state, fifty years later it is worth asking how, given a changing world, labour can recalibrate itself to remain relevant.
Opposition to review laws for essential services
2023 06/18
In her Labour Day message Opposition Leader Kamla Persad Bissessar says, “Never before have workers faced such a concerted and calculated assault and vicious attacks by the worst anti-worker, anti-Labour, anti-trade union and anti-people government as under this vicious and wicked Rowley-led regime.”
Citizens endure mounting crime, rising unemployment, dwindling opportunities, and a cost of living crisis.
“The PNM in its various incarnations has ruthlessly eroded the base of organised Labour. We just have to recall the unjustified closure of Caroni (1975) Ltd. All other countries involved in sugar production are still in business just as all the countries that had been involved in oil refining are still in business and taking advantage of the high fuel prices while Trinidad and Tobago cannot even produce bitumen to patch our horrible roads.”
Mrs Persad Bissessar said under her watch, they settled over one hundred and thirty-three (133) collective agreements valued at close to $6b. Since then, no negotiations have been settled around the table by this “vicious PNM government since 2015, except for the imposition of four (4) per cent.”
The Leader said it was indeed painful to witness public sector workers being forced to accept 4 per cent salary increases only because the other option available was the prospect of having collective agreements for five years and more being imposed on them by the Special Tribunal.
“The Rowley-led PNM knows how to apply the law in an oppressive manner. They do not rule for the benefit of the people of Trinidad and Tobago. This provision in the law is harsh and oppressive and must be changed to reflect the norms of the industrial relations practice of three-year agreements.”
She alleged that the government is now making efforts to broaden the scope of essential services to include the oil and gas sector.
“This must not be allowed to take place. A UNC government when it returns to office shall review the laws in relation to essential services to ensure that only the truly essential services are placed in that category, consistent with the conventions and recommendations of the International Labour Organization (ILO).”
Fuel-transport staff should be allowed to strike
Opposition MP Rudranath Indarsingh accused the government of being against trade unions after it added all workers involved in fuel transport to the essential list of workers who are legally forbidden from taking strike action.
In a motion on the adjournment of the House of Representatives on Friday, the Couva South MP said Legal Notice 163, passed on May 29 by Cabinet approval, listed liquid fuel pipeline facilities and network services workers to the list of essential workers.
Indarsingh sought to annul the legal notice, saying it was an attempt by government to stop workers from joining trade unions. The amendment to the Industrial Relations Act came “like a thief in the night.”
He accused the government of being hypocrites as the law now made it illegal for some 100 workers to take industrial action and urged the Labour Minister to explain the need to include the workers.
Indarsingh said the Labour Ministry was aware that the Oilfield Workers Trade Union (OWTU) applied to be considered the registered union for the workers in April and have since not been given the courtesy of an acknowledgement letter.
In response, Labour Minister Stephen Mc Clashie said those workers were responsible for transporting 75 per cent of the country’s fuel, which should be considered essential since the workers transport gas and aviation fuel.
Mc Clashie assured that, should the need arise, government would settle disputes expeditiously, adding that it was not reasonable to annul the amendment.
“It is not about union busting, this is about the national good and protecting the country from shutdown and making good sense of natural resources.”
In the end, Indarsingh lost the motion with him and ten of his colleagues voting to have it dismissed and 17 government members voting that the law remain in place.
The law now means that there are 11 categories of workers prevented from stopping services owing to industrial action, they are:
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- electricity services,
- water and
- sewerage services,
- internal telephone service,
- external communications (telephone, telegraph, wireless),
- fire services,
- health services,
- hospital services,
- sanitation services,
- public school bus services and
- civil aviation services.
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Special Achievers Grant
Ravi Balgobin Maharaj is threatening legal action against the Ministry of Social Development over what appears to be “racial and gender imbalance” in the selection of beneficiaries for its Special Achievers’ Grant (SAG). In a pre-action protocol letter, Maharaj claims recent disclosures by the ministry to a freedom of information request showed that 70 per cent of the SAG winners were of African descent while a mere 30 per cent were of Indian descent, like the majority of the population.
“The level of imbalance and bias towards one specific racial origin in the SAG programme is therefore distinct. “
He gave the ministry 30 days to publish information relating to the grant, failing which, he will instruct attorneys to file a claim for judicial review and constitutional redress to force the disclosures.
“It is clear that this SAG is being operated in an unfair, discriminatory and arbitrary manner,” attorney Jochelle Lootawan, of Freedom Law Chambers, said in the letter to the ministry’s permanent secretary.
The fund was a programme administered by the State with public funds. Lootawan said to ensure transparency, fairness and equality it was incumbent on the ministry to publish on its website,
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- the existence of the grant;
- the procedure for applying;
- the policy and criteria;
- the amount of the grant that a beneficiary can receive;
- the timeframe from submission to a final decision;
- and reasons for refusing an application.
Information should also include the advice that citizens can seek the intervention of the Ombudsman or apply for judicial review if they feel their application was unfairly denied.
Maharaj only became aware of the grant after recent outcries against the treatment of former boxing champ, Claude Noel.
From his interactions with citizens, it appeared they did not know the grant existed. Alleging discrimination in the award of the SAG, Lootawan said that based on the information provided by the ministry, there was no explanation for why some recipients received larger sums than others.
“It would appear that Government agencies are allergic to compiling data based on gender, geography, race and religion. …How on earth is a citizen to prove discrimination in a State where the relevant authority does not keep such statistics to avoid having evidence that could substantiate such claims?”
No information on the grant is publicly available.
“Our client is a community leader and public interest litigant. Many special achievers from the Indian community who have fallen on hard times have come to him to seek assistance and were unaware of the existence of this SAG programme. Having become aware of it, he is concerned that public funds in this SAG programme are being disbursed in a secretive and arbitrary manner at the political whim, fancy and dictate of the ruling party in Government. It is a well-known and unfortunate fact that our politics are rooted in ethnic division and suspicion” so it was important for a State agency to adopt strong measures to protect and safeguard the constitutional rights of citizens to equality of treatment from a public authority.
BBC World Questions forum
2023 06/08
The BBC brought its popular World Questions town hall to Trinidad at the Central Bank Auditorium discussing wide-ranging topics like crime, climate change, energy dependency, race relations, and LGBT+ rights, featuring questions, and comments, from a lively audience.
The panel featured Minister of Energy Stuart Young, Economist Dr Marlene Attzs, Lawrence J. Arjoon Chief Executive Officer, The Heroes Foundation and Tabaquite MP Anita Haynes of the opposition UNC.
Host Jonny Dymond, BBC Royal Correspondent, began the discussion describing Trinidad and Tobago as the most prosperous country in the Caribbean with a rich culture, a stable democracy, a growing tourist industry and valuable natural resources but acknowledged rising crime, immigration and a reliance on oil.
The first gut-wrenching question packed the most punch, from an audience member whose father had been murdered recently, saying the TTPS hadn’t even appointed an investigator, and his report to the Police Complaints Authority seemed to be falling on deaf ears as well. The question: Why weren’t successive governments able to get a handle on crime?
In a later segment of the conversation, an audience member asked why it took the BBC coming to Trinidad to host such an important discussion on these issues. MP Anita Haynes and Minister Young said they were both willing to participate in such debates, at which point Dymond interrupted and asked them to make a commitment right then and there to the audience to participate in such a debate in the future, to which they agreed.
Under the microscope for most of the event, Energy Minister Stuart Young took some flak as he emphatically called on the public not to “bastardise” the energy industry saying it remains vital to the local and international economy. He had to be reminded the question was about plans to move away from a dependency on hydrocarbons.
He also faced some jeers for incorrectly stating the Equal Opportunity Act protects against discrimination based on sexual orientation.
BBC World Questions: Trinidad and Tobago will air on BBC World Service English on 10 June and is available online after that at bbc.com/worldserviceradio
BBC Forum
2023 06/09
Government and the T&T Police Service (TTPS) came under heavy fire from the public and critical thinkers for the country’s spiralling crime at a debate hosted by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC).
The session featured politicians and opinion makers, including Energy Minister Stuart Young, Tabaquite MP Anita Haynes, CEO of the Heroes Foundation Lawrence Arjoon and economist Dr Marlene Attzs, who responded to questions from the public on topical issues.
BBC World Question, was hosted by BBC’s Jonny Dymond at Central Bank Auditorium, Eric Williams Plaza .
Dymond introduced T&T as the most prosperous country in the Caribbean with a stable democracy, rich culture, valued natural resources and growing tourist industry.
“But it faces big challenges,” he said, listing crime, the trade in drugs and humans and the growing gang culture as some of the challenges. Dymond said T&T was ranked sixth by the World of Statistics for being “the most criminal country” in the world and recorded its highest murder rate last year.
Turning to the audience, Dymond invited Rishi Mahabir to ask the panel a question. In a faint voice, Mahabir said his father, a farmer, was plagued by crime until he was murdered two months ago. He said a homicide officer was never assigned to the case. He asked the panel why past and present governments and the TTPS failed to address crime.
Dymond pointed out that last year Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley had declared violence a public health emergency, noting that the BBC had received dozens of questions on crime before the debate kicked off.
Sympathising with Mahabir’s tragic loss, Young said: “Crime is an issue that affects everyone, unfortunately.
“The responsibility falls to whoever is the Government in power,” Young admitted.
Noting T&T’s geographic proximity to South America, Young said the country faces a lot of transnational criminal activity.
“I can assure you we are putting a lot of resources behind it. Are we where we need to be? Absolutely not,” he said.
Young said as a citizen he is very concerned and he assured Mahabir that Government has been working with the TTPS and other arms of national security.
“Crime is something that is affecting everywhere in the world . . . but none of us wants to hear that. What are we doing about dealing with it right here in Trinidad and Tobago? We are trying to employ as much technology as possible, we are trying to boost the morale of the T&T Police Service. It is something that is a top priority for the Government.”
Young said the Government is trying its best to provide law enforcement with what they need. He told Mahabir he would make inquiries as to why no officer has been investigating his father’s murder, stating that was “unacceptable.”
In response to Young’s comments, Haynes said as a citizen it had been difficult in the last few years to be looking on at the escalating crime wave. Government has been putting resources into our problem without measuring its efficiency.
“We are already afraid. But what we aren’t hearing is that with the $5 billion put towards national security, or all of the interventions that are being proposed, we never hear at the end of the year or the end of a stipulated period any acknowledgement of what worked, what did not work or what could work better if we need certain improvements,” she said.
Haynes said despite injecting billions of dollars into national security year after year, nothing has worked.
“So we must have a progressive discussion and be focused on targeted interventions,” she said
Attzs expressed concern that the TTPS was seen as a panacea.
“I think that is not a healthy approach. The T&T Police Service is an institution and unless we look at whether or not that institution is appropriately resourced, I mean both in terms of their human resources and financial resources etc., then they will really not be equipped to address the kinds of challenges that we are seeing in Trinidad and Tobago.
“It is very apparent that the nature of crime has changed and therefore your institutional framework has to be one that adapts to suit that changing dynamic. And it is not simply a question about a budgetary allocation, but a return on the investment and the levels of efficiency delivered.”
Arjoon said honesty, trust and meaningful collaboration are critical to building a safe and sustainable society.
“We do not have a society that trusts. And that is me being honest. And it starts from our leadership come straight down.”
Dymond asked Mahabit to share his thoughts as to why governments and the police have failed to tackle crime.
“I think it has a lot to do with corruption in the Police Service,” he said.
BBC World Service
2023 06/11
Criminal justice system an impediment to crime fighting.
Minister of Energy Stuart Young says the criminal justice system is the biggest problem in dealing with crime. Young, also a Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister, said that as crime affects everyone, the Government is conscious and very disturbed by it.
A panelist on the BBC’s World Service World Question with Jonny Dymond , Young told the audience that the Government implemented the Public Defender System so that everyone charged with an offence has legal representation in court.
He was the only Minister of National Security who walked the Remand Yard prison several times despite reservations from the Prison Service. It was a quest to interact with remanded prisoners, where he learnt that many wanted judge-alone trials to get speedier outcomes.
Young said the Government also implemented more criminal courts.
“It is my belief that the biggest problem we have in dealing with criminality in Trinidad & Tobago is the criminal justice system. Every time we try to address it, immediately, separation of powers comes to the forefront, which is protected in Trinidad & Tobago by a constitution.”.
As the Government fights crime, that transnational nature of it affects T&T: a small island state with proximity to South America.
Young assured the audience that the Government is working with the Police Service (TTPS) and other national security bodies to address crime by employing technology and boosting police morale.
Tabaquite MP Anita Haynes said while crime statistics show why people should be afraid, they already are. However, Haynes said people want to know how anti-crime measures implemented with the $5 billion budget allocation worked.
“We never hear at the end of the year or the end of a stipulated period, any acknowledgement of what works, what did not work, what could work better in terms of improvement.”
UWI developmental economist Dr Marlene Attzs said citizens see the TTPS as a panacea, where people look to it to solve crimes. However, Attzs does not see this as a helpful approach, saying that unless the TTPS has the appropriate resources, it cannot address the kinds of challenges T&T faces.
The Heroes Foundation CEO Lawrence Arjoon believes T&T does not have a trusting society, which starts with leadership. Arjoon said politicians must set examples in Parliament and re-evaluate their conduct on political platforms.
“We cannot be attacking our own people and dragging every good thing done in this country through the mud because it does not align with our political party. We can make a change. We have made a change in this country. When I look at the strides we have made against child abuse in this country, it shows me that there is hope there,” Arjoon said.
From the audience, their views on crime differ. One member argued that having people on remand for 15 years affects the system’s credibility in serving justice. Another found that in tackling crime, authorities should look inside the home as criminals are often the result of poor parenting, school dropouts, single parents with no support and poverty. Another found that the lack of local DNA testing centres led to a holdup in criminal investigations.
There was also the issue of police corruption.
On the question of the Government’s plans to reduce T&T’s dependence on oil and gas and switch to a green economy, Young said too many people perceived a hydrocarbon-based economy as wrong. The Russia/Ukraine war showed that many European countries had to rush to restart coal plants for power when they did not have oil.
“We should thank God we have an oil and gas-based economy,” he said.
Young said the Government was the front leader in the Caribbean in implementing renewable energy, undertaking a 112 MW solar project while energy security was the biggest global conversation. He said that as T&T moves onto new energy, it will continue to work on hydrocarbons until the last oil and gas is out of the ground. In terms of diversifying the economy, Young said the Government would focus on using T&T’s geographical location to expand its maritime shipping industry to continue its forex earnings.
Haynes said T&T was grateful for the hydrocarbon industry but called it a ticking clock.
Dynasty leads construction at Coosal’s Group
Almost everyone knows the name Coosal whether they have sought out products and services from the Coosal’s Group of Companies or seen the transport and cement trucks on the roads – it is a name that is hard to miss. Coosal’s has been an active name in the construction sector, established over 70 years ago, in which Sieunarine Coosal was appointed CEO of Coosal’s Construction Co Ltd in 1991.
Coosal’s operations focus on asphalt, blocks, concrete, civil engineering and infrastructure development and quarry operations.
The company takes its corporate social responsibility seriously and upgrades its plants and equipment to eco-friendly systems. It is engaged in minimising its carbon footprint, keeping wastage to minimum and proper treatment of waste disposal. Coosal’s has expanded within the region and is established in Guyana with hopes of continuing its expansion while maintaining its strong hold in TT.
Recently, the public has seen more of Sieunarine’s daughter Tricia Coosal, executive director of finance and administration of the company. She also served as president of the TT Manufacturers Association (TTMA) for two consecutive terms – the maximum allowed – and is now the immediate past president.
The father-daughter duo spoke about their working relationship and gave an insight into their work interactions.
Tricia said, “It was a steep learning curve given the breadth and depth of my father’s experiences. I consider myself fortunate that I am able to have a front row access to his knowledge and experience.”
Her father added, “In that same vein I am proud that I am able to share my knowledge with my children and also to guide them in taking the group, in their future realisation, to its true potential.”
Brother Rajiv works for the company as operations director while Sister Shivaa is set to work for the company once she completes her academic pursuits.
Tricia said their dynamic is unique since she gets her drive and bold persistent way of approaching a task from her dad. Her father said, “With two strong people working together you could imagine the results to be realised and what we can achieve.”
When Tricia and her dad have a common goal they become laser focused, especially with the excitement and the drive she gets from seeing how passionate her dad is about what he does.
He said, “I believe you must enjoy and have a passion for what you do. That I believe, is one of the most important factors for success.”
As for disagreements when working together, her dad said, “This goes hand in hand with family-run businesses and also forms part of the succession planning process. It is just a part of the dynamic. When there has been a set way of doing things and new ideas and ways of dealing with situations come up, there will always be some friction.”
Sieunarine Coosal and his daughter Tricia are leaders in the construction industry. –
Tricia said when dealing with friction, it is not about who wins, but what the best approach is for the business to achieve its desired results.
“He’s also the boss so I do have a reporting structure to adhere to.”
Dad said, “It’s not so much a reporting structure but more so years and years of business experience in terms of handling situations and dealing with people. While there will always be differences of opinion between us, resolving them require us both to be willing to communicate and find common ground. When we have disagreements, I think we each in our way, seek to understand. We encourage each other to explain their viewpoints and the underlying reasons behind their opinions.”
Working together has brought on challenges such as balancing roles, communication styles, work-life balance and conflict resolution.
“Establishing clear boundaries between the personal and professional aspects of the relationship can be challenging. As for communication styles, we understand each other’s communication styles and therefore are able to often circumvent misunderstandings or conflicts. We sometimes have to adjust our communication approaches to ensure effective collaboration and avoid personal biases or assumptions.”
With family and work closely intertwined, maintaining a healthy work-life balance can be challenging.
“Separating work-related discussions from family gatherings or personal time can become difficult and it’s essential to establish boundaries to avoid burnout or strain on our relationship.”
As for conflicts, it can become emotionally charged seeing as though there are family ties involved.
Her dad said, “Overcoming these challenges requires open communication, mutual respect, and a willingness to separate personal and professional aspects of the relationship.”
Tricia added that sometimes it may seem impossible to reach a complete consensus or change each other’s opinions while working together. But it is necessary to accept the different perspectives without letting it impact their relationship negatively.
She said while she has a strong passion for languages, literature and the arts, business has always been a part of her and her modus operandi.
“My family’s business played a significant part in me wanting to pursue business as my main career path. It was never forced, but rather evolved as time went by and I realised I had a keen interest in business as I would spend some of my holidays from a very early age working at our offices. I also gravitated towards conversations where my parents would engage my brother Rajiv and sister Shivaa in various topics of discussion, encouraging us to look at situations not just as presented, but being able to analyse and look at it from different perspectives.”
With Tricia being the immediate past president of the TTMA, she has been in the spotlight quite frequently as encouraged by her father who is also a “living testimony” of “you will never know if you don’t try and make an effort to achieve what you want.”
She described him as such because despite all odds and in the gravest of circumstances with the slimmest chances, he is always able to emerge and establish himself for success.
“Hearing him say, ‘I am proud of you,’ resonates most with me. It is almost surreal and definitely motivating and encouraging. My father encouraged me to join the TTMA, as he too was an executive board member of the association and encouraged me to run for president. I am grateful for his encouragement and nudge in the right direction.”
Parents usually become teary-eyed and are immensely proud of their children’s successes and it is no different for Tricia’s dad.
“I am a proud father. I always knew Tricia was a strong and independent person. She can achieve anything she puts her mind to.”
Tricia has also brought a breath of fresh air with new ideas and opinions to the company.
“She has brought the skill of completing tasks in an easier, quicker and more efficient manner. The use of technology is more integrated into the company and we are more technologically advanced. It’s the marrying of two generations in finding ways of achieving the same goal.”
He explained the importance of leading children into business and said it encourages independence and self-reliance.
“It empowers them to take ownership of their ideas, make decisions and learn from their successes and failures. This process instils confidence and the ability to overcome challenges, which are essential qualities for personal growth. It’s worth noting that while leading children into business can have numerous advantages, it’s essential to balance their interests, passions and individual aspirations. Not all children may be inclined towards business and it’s important to respect and support their unique talents and ambitions.”
Family companies abound in the economy, as accountants, shopkeepers, store owners, farmers, crafts, food producers, caterers, distributors, doctors, pharmacists, lawyers, technicians, musicians, faith leaders, hairdressers, tailors, teachers, hoteliers, and providers of entertainment, transport, funeral services, environmental and energy services. The rural economy is now threatened by crime and many entrepreneurs have closed shop.