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  • 1 year ago
National Petroleum workers at the Sea Lots compound staged a protest on Friday, calling for an apology from the Petroleum Dealers Association, as well as for Ministerial intervention to address issues which they allege have arisen under the present Board.


Their representing Trade Union claims that the recent resignation of NP's CEO was due in part to the company's risk portfolio.


Alicia Boucher has the details.
Transcript
00:00National petroleum workers venting their frustration at noon on Friday.
00:13The Oilfields Workers' Trade Union expresses its belief that the company has lost several
00:18competent chief executive officers, including Bernard Mitchell, whose contract was not renewed
00:24despite a petition signed by close to 500 employees, and John Gormandy, who acted for
00:29three years without being confirmed.
00:33There has been a change out of CEO over five times in the past seven years.
00:38Why has there been so much instability in a key position under the leadership of the
00:43chairman, Saeed Hossain?
00:45Most recently, it's Derek Lukpat, who on November 1st, tendered his resignation after one year.
00:52OWTU Brands Secretariat and Peapod of Spain Crystal Boland says an all-staff meeting was
00:57called by the board prior to the protest for the purpose of providing more clarity on Lukpat's
01:03resignation.
01:04And what were the reasons given?
01:07He would have read out the CEO's resignation letter, which essentially spoke to two things,
01:12personal reasons, you know, that is the professional term, personal reasons, as well as the risk
01:18portfolio of the organization.
01:21What about the risk portfolio of the organization?
01:23The CEO found that it was too high for his personal and professional tolerance.
01:29And the OWTU questions what aspect of risk was in reference, whether it be financial,
01:35health and safety, or otherwise.
01:38Fitted to that, the OWTU cites the resignation of six board members, saying some left months
01:44after their appointments.
01:46It is also expressing concern over what it claims is the outsourcing of key positions,
01:51despite a wealth of knowledge among senior staff whose tenure, we're told, ranges between
01:5520 and 25 years, or more in some cases.
01:59Boland highlights the legal department as an example.
02:03The team that is there actually, in our opinion, has more experience than the manager they
02:08would have hired recently.
02:10We find that we have enough skills and experience here to have a homegrown CEO.
02:14For instance, Mr. Beepert has been holding the fort every time we have a void.
02:18Why hasn't there been a consideration to even give him permanently the post of CEO?
02:22The OWTU claims that an approval by the board granting employees over the age of 50 access
02:28to early retirement has led to a brain drain, further alleging that proper succession planning
02:34was not initiated before this was implemented.
02:37Other allegations by the OWTU include interference by the board in the day-to-day managerial
02:42operations of the company, such as the hiring and promotion of workers.
02:47First Vice President of the Union Sati Gadjida Innis has a message for Energy Minister Stuart
02:53Young.
02:54It is time for the line minister to get involved and intercede in what is happening at NP.
03:00Good governance must continue at NP for the country to continue to receive a safe and
03:06reliable supply of petroleum throughout this industry.
03:10And to NP's chairman, his utterances about the OWTU being involved with other parties
03:16against NP, he needs to clarify that and clear the union's name where that is concerned.
03:23As for the utterance by President of the Petroleum Dealers Association, Robin Narayan Singh,
03:28that NP workers are corrupt, the OWTU responds.
03:33We challenge Mr. Narayan Singh to produce his evidence to support his claim.
03:38Who are these corrupt workers?
03:40Mr. Narayan Singh's statement is reckless, untrue, and brings all NP workers into disrepute.
03:47Therefore we demand an outright apology where that is concerned.
03:51Alicia Boucher, TV6 News.
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