"The valves that were opened could have only been opened using a specialised type of wrench,” Ramnarine told reporters at the post-Cabinet news conference at the Office of the Prime Minister in St Clair.
The minister said he discussed the oil spill with officials at Rancho Quemado who indicated the oil spill from their side was the result of a deliberate act. He plans to meet with experts Tuesday to determine the time-frame to clean up the oil spills.
Ramnarine also stated that Petrotrin will compensate affected fishermen with $2,000 a day for every day they are not fishing.
The minister said an independent team will investigate the cause of the other oil spills on the country’s south-western peninsula. He promised a preliminary report by the end of January 2014.
There have been five oil spills since last Tuesday. Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar discussed the matter on Monday with members of the cabinet and she also chaired a meeting of the National Security Council at which it was decided to increase surveillance at the country's land and sea oil installations.
Ramnarine also stated that Petrotrin will compensate affected fishermen with $2,000 a day for every day they are not fishing.
The minister said an independent team will investigate the cause of the other oil spills on the country’s south-western peninsula. He promised a preliminary report by the end of January 2014.
There have been five oil spills since last Tuesday. Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar discussed the matter on Monday with members of the cabinet and she also chaired a meeting of the National Security Council at which it was decided to increase surveillance at the country's land and sea oil installations.
Ramnarine said his cabinet colleague, Ganga Singh, who is the Minister of the Environment and Water Resources,will chair a ministerial committee comprising himself and National Security Minister Gary Griffith. That committee would appoint an independent expert team to find out what caused the spills
While Ramnarine was clear on the issue of sabotage he was not blaming anyone.
“At this point in time it’s very early still to say who is to blame. The Government hasn’t blamed anybody. I see some people are stepping forward and saying that they are not to blame,” said Ramnarine.
While Ramnarine was clear on the issue of sabotage he was not blaming anyone.
“At this point in time it’s very early still to say who is to blame. The Government hasn’t blamed anybody. I see some people are stepping forward and saying that they are not to blame,” said Ramnarine.
The President General of the Oilfield Workers Trade Union (OWTU), Ancel Roget, has stated that his members are not to be blamed for what happened.
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