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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