FARLEY MUST GO

CCNTV6

President of the All Tobago Fisherfolk Association, Curtis Douglas is tonight calling for Chief Secretary Farley Augustine to demit office. Mr. Douglas's call came during a media conference on Thursday, where he claimed fisherfolk in Tobago are still awaiting payment from the THA, following losses from the February 7th oil spill. The THA received $50million from Central Government towards paying outstanding monies to stakeholders who assisted in these clean-up efforts. More in this Elizabeth Williams report.

Transcript

00:00I want the world to know the kind of administration we have and the type of nepotism that is taking

00:06place and victimization that is taking place in the THC by these public servants.

00:11If they can't handle it or communicate or pay the fisherfolk in Tobago, let them pack

00:17their bag and leave.

00:19Mr Douglas said while Trinidad contractors who assisted in the oil spill cleanup were

00:24in need, Tobago fisherfolk are still waiting.

00:27He is today calling for an audit.

00:30We are saying those type of plantation behavior we will not tolerate it in Tobago and I'm

00:35calling for investigation or audit into this money.

00:39Why it is that we cannot get paid a month into it?

00:43But yet still, your 1% French who would have worked in Tobago are receiving funding.

00:50John Elvis Bob broke down in tears as his troubles are two-fold.

00:54Not only did he not receive payment from the THC for work rendered, but his boat engine

01:00was stolen.

01:01I resigned from the government and I got that boat for my living after I resigned to support

01:12my family.

01:13It hurt me very much then to know I had to be going through that.

01:20The theft of boat engines have been occurring under the nose of a private security firm

01:25hired by the THC at 12 fishing facilities across Tobago.

01:30The All Tobago Fisherfolk Association intends to take legal action in the matter as they

01:35claim reports made to police have been useless.

01:40Bandits is coming in where there's lights with their tools and their drills and take

01:47off and pung off and lift off and drive off with the belongings of the fisherfolks.

01:56And you telling me they don't know, they ain't see anything?

02:01TV6 News contacted Chief Secretary Farley Augustine on the matter.

02:05Mr. Augustine is debunking the claims made by Mr. Douglas.

02:09The Chief Secretary told TV6 News there are two sets of payments being processed and to

02:15be made to the fisherfolk concerning the oil spill.

02:18The first set of payments is for fisherfolk who actually used their boats and worked in

02:24the oil spill cleanup operations.

02:26And the second set of payments is to be processed concerns claims being made for damage to the

02:33boats and equipment of fisherfolk by the oil spill.

02:37With regards to payments to all Tobago fisherfolk for the fishermen who used their boats and

02:43came out and worked in the cleanup operations, the Chief Secretary said payments of $641,200

02:51and $490,000 were made in May and according to his records were collected by Mr. Douglas.

02:59He said outstanding payments are still being processed by accounts.

03:04Elizabeth Williams, TV6 News.

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