The Alliance for Change (AFC) on Friday expressed concern about the oil spill incident affecting the island of Tobago. The opposition party said it is not only worried about the environmental implications of the spill but the lesson it holds for Guyana, which is accelerating oil production at the ExxonMobil-operated Stabroek Block.
Guyana Standard previously reported that the spill originated from a capsized barge, reportedly en route to Guyana. It has been leaking oil into the Caribbean Sea for over a week.
Tobago’s Chief Secretary, Farley Augustine, reported that the oil spill has reached Grenada’s territorial waters and is moving to Venezuela despite containment efforts. Augustine, in an interview with the The Guardian, highlighted the challenges in addressing the spill, stating, “We are unable to plug the leak and unless we have information on how much fuel is in the barge or what exactly it contains…”
The incident has since prompted Trinidad and Tobago to seek assistance from Grenada, Panama, Aruba, Guyana, and CARICOM to investigate the disaster.
In the meantime, the AFC said it views the incident as being a sombre reminder that oil spill preparedness is critical. Despite Trinidad and Tobago’s long history as an oil-producing nation, the AFC criticized the country’s response to the spill and used the incident to underscore the need for Guyana to bolster its oil spill management capabilities.
Further, the AFC said its concerns about the Tobago incident are heightened by the fact that Exxon and partners continue to accelerate production at the Stabroek Block where total output stands at 645,000 barrels of oil per day. It said the current output surpasses that of Trinidad and Tobago’s peak, thereby highlighting an elevated risk of similar incidents. The party advocated for a “comprehensive oil spill plan backed by provision of adequate resources and equipment” and stressed the importance of ensuring that operators in Guyana’s oil blocks possess “full and unlimited liability coverage.”
As the region grapples with the spill, considered a national emergency, a significant cleanup operation is underway. Venezuela’s Foreign Affairs Ministry has already engaged with Trinidad’s government to coordinate a response to the unfolding environmental crisis.
The search also continues for the tugboat associated with the capsized barge, with officials uncertain about the presence of crew members at the time of the incident.
The AFC said in a statement that it is closely monitoring the situation, including the financial implications for Trinidad and Tobago. The party said it will be sure to draw the necessary comparisons of the final cost to that nation against the US$2B parent company guarantee Guyana has in place from Exxon to cover spills in the Stabroek Block.
