- 10 months ago
T&T's OFAC licences for the Dragon Gas and Cocuina Manakin gas deals were revoked
The Finance Minister said, there is no money to pay workers 10% increments as promised by the UNC
and Leo Benhakker passed on
The Finance Minister said, there is no money to pay workers 10% increments as promised by the UNC
and Leo Benhakker passed on
Category
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NewsTranscript
00:00Welcome back. News came last week that TNT's OPAC licenses to pursue the drag and gas and
00:09coquina mannequin projects were revoked by the Trump administration. However, the prime minister
00:15remained optimistic that there is still an opportunity to convince the US to reverse its
00:20decision. We have now been informed that our license from OPAC, which is dated the 18th of
00:30December 2023, has been revoked by OPAC and that license is now revoked by OPAC as well as our
00:38coquina mannequin license. The announcement by Prime Minister Stuart Young on Tuesday with regard
00:43to licenses granted by the former Biden administration in the US that cleared the way
00:48for Trinidad and Tobago's deal for the supply of natural gas from Venezuela. The revocation of the
00:54licenses by the Trump administration comes some two weeks after Prime Minister Young expressed hope
00:59for continued progress for the drag and gas deal after his meeting with US Secretary of State
01:04Marco Rubio. There is a process for, I wouldn't say appeal of this revocation, but there is a process
01:13for you to make an application for it not to be or for there to be amendments. And we are going to be
01:19engaged in that process on behalf of Trinidad and Tobago. I have also reached out to Mauricio
01:27Claver-Carone, who is a special envoy, and put in a request for a telephone conversation with Secretary of State
01:35Marco Rubio.
01:36So was this a failure of the government given its insistence of the need for gas from Venezuela
01:41where petrochemical plants that operate locally is concerned?
01:46The answer is no. In fact, what was described to me by Secretary of State Rubio as well as Mauricio
01:54is the work that we had done prior has put our reputation and how we're respected with the
02:01United States administration in a very top-tier level. As he expressed hope about local natural
02:07gas production, the Prime Minister said there is a winding down period for the revocation of the US
02:13licenses, which he said is until May 27th. TV6 News sought some clarification.
02:19I recall some messaging by the government, and you can clarify here, that for the nation to basically
02:25hold on or manage the financial side of things, even on a personal level, until the gas comes across
02:33the border, there was confidence at that time that this deal would occur in the way that the
02:39government had foreseen it. Now we are seeing a different situation. What is your message to the
02:44population in that regard? My message to the population is we're going to continue. My message
02:49to the population is there's a winding down period. That we have immediately done what is responsible,
02:55and I have requested the necessary telephone calls and conversations with the decision makers in
03:00Washington. I have every expectation that I will get that opportunity. I'm engaged with our lawyers
03:06in Washington. I expect that we will, in the interim, be utilizing the legal process to make our case
03:12as to why our license should not be revoked. In response to another question from TV6 News,
03:18the Prime Minister said that this new development means, quote, it prevents payment at this stage
03:23to the government of Venezuela, end quote. Jewel Brown, TV6 News. May hours after Prime Minister
03:31Stuart Young announced that TNT's OPAC licenses had been revoked, the Prime Minister revealed that
03:36officials out of the U.S. had engaged him in further discussions on the matter. The Prime Minister also
03:43spoke briefly on the issue of U.S. tariffs. On Tuesday, Prime Minister Stuart Young announced that TNT's OPAC licenses
03:52for the Dragon Gas and Coquina Mannequin projects had been revoked. Mel's later, he took to a podium
03:58and shared the following information. Without breaching confidentiality, I was engaged in the conversation
04:07with the policy makers in Washington. And that is the type of leadership that is necessary and needed.
04:19And it will unfold. The point is, within a matter of hours, we had the opportunity, only because
04:29of the relationships and the reputation that we have, that we were engaged immediately.
04:36The Prime Minister was addressing stakeholders at the TDMA's leadership discussions
04:41and networking event, where he raised another issue of concern.
04:45At midnight last night, our largest trading partner, and arguably one of the largest trading partner
04:54of many, many countries in the world, imposed unilaterally tariffs across a wide, wide spectrum
05:04of countries across the world. So that kicked in at midnight last night. I am certain, because
05:11you're seeing it in other countries of the world, that you here, as Trinidadians and Tobogonians
05:16and manufacturers, are still trying to work out how does that affect you. Because it's going
05:22to affect your cost of input. It is going to affect the goods that we import. It is going to affect
05:30what you export now into the United States. It is extremely volatile. So it's no longer
05:37just in the energy sector. It is going to affect the day to day lives of every single one of
05:43our citizens.
05:44Prime Minister Young says he has already initiated discussions with CARICOM on how the region will
05:50move farther.
05:51Prime Minister Motley and myself were engaged in conversation. And the main part of that
05:56conversation was we have a CARICOM heads meeting on Friday. And for us to be on the same page
06:03to approach the rest of the heads of CARICOM to have the conversation about the tariffs that were about
06:09to kick in, in a few minutes. And to know that you have people in the government who understand,
06:21who understand the plight, who understand where the difficulties lie and are able to have those
06:26conversations, factor that in to the decisions we'll make in the next few weeks.
06:34U.S. President Donald Trump has since paused the implementation of tariffs on most countries,
06:40with the exception of China.
06:43Chief Secretary Farley Augustine labeled the failed drag and gas deal as unfortunate, but
06:49added poor management by the PNM has the nation in its present state. Meantime, PNM
06:55Tobago Council leader Ansel Dennis said, now is not the time to move away from the responsible
07:01leadership of the PNM.
07:04We heard the unfortunate news that as of right now, the drag and gas deal is dead. And it
07:11is so unfortunate that for us, we live in a part of the world where others, other countries
07:20bigger than we are, can actually determine our prosperity and our future.
07:27Mr. Augustine speaking during a TPP meeting in Plymouth on Tuesday night, said small island
07:34states remain at a disadvantage.
07:36And that another country, being sovereign and separate and independent from us, can determine
07:44whether or not we can enter into an arrangement with another neighboring country. But whether
07:51we like it or not, that's just the way the world swings. In Tobago we say, donkey said the world
07:57is not level. And certainly in the world we live in, small island territories like Trinidad
08:04and Tobago are at the mercies of the metropolitan countries up north.
08:09Augustine said the next five years is most critical for all political parties in the country. He blamed
08:16the poor management of the PNM for the country's present circumstance.
08:21Because the next five years, we have to get all of our sums correct. The maths must maths for the next five years. Because we are at the brink whereby we had a PNM government, through to poor management, poor fiscal management, poor social infrastructure and investment has left us at the mercy of what is happening in the global space.
08:50Meantime, PNM Tobago Council political leader, Ansel Dennis speaking during a PNM political meeting in Kastara said, now is not the time to leave the responsible leadership of the PNM.
09:05This has nothing to do with any failure on the part of any government. A previous US government agreed with it. The new one decided that they want to change the mind and they pulled back the license.
09:19So that simply means that we have to look for alternatives. And I want to give the people of Tobago the assurance and the people of this country by extension that this time right here, this unpredictable time, this volatile time, this serious time requires ready and responsible leadership.
09:45Elizabeth Williams, TV6 News.
09:47In other news, mayor days after the elections and the boundaries commission agreed not to employ a presiding officer who had publicly declared her loyalty to the PNM, came a request to do the same with the returning officer for alleged bias.
10:05The UNC has delivered a letter to Chief Elections Officer, Fern Narcisco, expressing its concerns about the integrity of the electoral process administered by the Elections and Boundaries Commission.
10:18The UNC is alleging bias on the part of the returning officer for the electoral district of Coover South.
10:24The party points out that on nomination day, the returning officer allowed the PNM's candidate to drive his vehicle up to the returning officer's office while the UNC's candidate had to walk from the security checkpoint.
10:37The UNC notes that it raised the matter at a meeting with the UNC on the 7th of April 2025 and demanded that the EBC relieve that returning officer of her responsibilities.
10:49The UNC says it was met with resistance from the EBC and was told the removal of returning officers was not within its power and lies solely with the president.
10:59The UNC is contending that the EBC is wrong to hold that this must be done by the president and says its lawyers have advised the party that the EBC appoints returning officers and not the president.
11:12The UNC sets out the advice of its lawyers to support the view that the EBC has the legal authority to remove the returning officer for Coover South.
11:22The UNC is asking if the EBC received a legal opinion on whether it could remove the returning officer.
11:28The UNC says that during the meeting with the EBC, party officials were told that if they did not agree with the EBC's position, they could take it to court.
11:37The UNC now wants the EBC to disclose publicly the name of the attorney or attorneys who provided any legal opinion on this issue to the EBC.
11:49This is The Past, 7 Days on 6. We'll be right back.
11:58Thanks for staying with us.
12:01Beginning this week, members of the public will no longer have to visit a licensing office to conduct two of the most highly requested transactions, permit renewals and applications for certified copies.
12:14Here's more.
12:16Members of the public will soon be able to stay in the comfort of their homes and carry out two key licensing transactions from start to finish.
12:25There's an online renewal of driver's permit whereby you can go on the internet and renew your driver's permit and have it mailed to your home, right?
12:33And we are commencing that with persons who are holders of class 1 and 3 in the first instance.
12:39In a couple of months, we're going to move to class 4 and 5.
12:41So basically, persons 1 and 3 will benefit first.
12:43Also, we are providing a similar system and workflow for the certified copies.
12:50You can stay from home and apply for certified copies online and have that delivered to your home or ATT Connect Center.
12:56The system is expected to go live by next week.
13:01Meantime, automated kiosks are also being installed at the licensing offices.
13:05So you can come into licensing, go to the kiosk, apply for certified and copy and have it print for you at the same time.
13:13Transport Commissioner Clive Clark is giving the assurance that the systems, which were developed in-house, will be safe and secure.
13:23When we access the certified copy system, you are required to put certain information on.
13:28Not just that, the system takes a pity off you, right?
13:31So the persons who present that information, the pictures are taken out.
13:36And then when you go to collect the copy by the counter or by the printer, the person there will verify that that picture matches you.
13:44However, some transactions will still need to be carried out on location.
13:49Inspection, we must, goods vehicle, you have the, as well as the taxis, must visit licensing office because we must see the vehicle, conduct an inspection,
13:57transfers of a vehicle, the law requires that the person must visit the licensing office for transport to take place.
14:05You still have transactions whereby persons who might be coming to have their vehicle checked because they might need chassis amendments
14:13or you might have issues in terms of you want to change your color and engine.
14:17The officer must see those things on the vehicle to initiate those changes.
14:21Over 3,000 persons usually visit licensing for permit renewals monthly, while roughly 8,000 certified copies are requested each month.
14:33And in other news, claims of not enough clocks for students required concessions for the SEA exam in Tobago.
14:40It came last week from Tobago West MP, Shampokujo Lewis, who took to Facebook Live on Thursday morning.
14:46Her comments have since been debunked by the Division of Education.
14:51Today, in Tobago, we have the problem of parents showing up with their children to settle them in for exams
15:01and they don't have enough clocks so that these children who were approved to be tested under special arrangement can have their exams done.
15:12So, as we speak, the rest of the schools start doing the exam, the other children start doing the exam, and we are scampering, looking for clocks.
15:22Parents calling the Division of Education, looking for clocks.
15:27Mrs. Kajul Lewis said she was notified of this development by concerned parents in Tobago,
15:33who complained that an adjudicator stated no clocks, no exams.
15:37So, today, the adjudicator walks into the room and tells this parent and student, no clock, no exam.
15:46Actually, then they were trying to call the Division of Education, trying to get a clock.
15:52Can't get on to anybody to get a clock.
15:55The other children started their exams, but the children who are there under concession cannot start their exam because there is no clock or there isn't sufficient clocks.
16:09Kajul Lewis said parents told her they had to leave their personal watches for their children to ensure they were able to sit the exam.
16:17Ladies and gentlemen, Tobago Indians, we have to do better than this.
16:27We can do better than this.
16:29This cannot be accepted.
16:32We know, or the Tobago House of Assembly Division of Education knows ahead of time how many students were accepted based on concessions.
16:41You know ahead of time how many children you have to make arrangements for.
16:47So, on exam morning, SEA exam morning, a day that is so important to these little children,
16:54you can't have little children who are already being tested under special conditions in the room by themselves.
17:02They can't start exam.
17:04While the others have started, they are nervous because there are no clocks for them to do their exam.
17:10In response, the Division of Education classified the video by MP Chamferkjo-Lewis as erroneous.
17:17The Division of Education said, quote,
17:19The Division of Education wishes to assure and reassure parents and guardians and the national community
17:25that the 2025 Secondary Entrance Assessment SEA examination commenced on time and simultaneously across all examination centers in Tobago.
17:37Recent comments circulating via a video from the Honorable Minister of Sport and Community Development
17:43have sparked concerns about the absence of clocks at some venues, potentially delaying the start of the exam.
17:50We wish to clarify that this information is erroneous, end quote.
17:55The Division of Education said,
17:57All examination centers were fully equipped ahead of the scheduled start time.
18:02It further stated that each trained invigilator was provided with timekeeping devices to ensure accurate monitoring of the exam.
18:11It assured that there were no reported delays in the commencement of the examination.
18:17The Division of Education explained that candidates with approved special concessions,
18:23such as extra time at the start of their exam, was aligned with the national schedule.
18:29It urged the public to remain calm and trust that the integrity of the SEA examination process remains intact.
18:38Elizabeth Williams, TV6 News.
18:41Sport is up next. Keep it here.
18:42In some sad news, Leo Benhaka, the coach responsible for this country's first and only World Cup appearance,
18:57died last week at the age of 82.
19:00The former Ajax and Real Madrid coach, who is also a Shakonia gold medal holder,
19:05etched his name in TNT's football history when he took the Soka Warriors to the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany.
19:13Trinidad and Tobago created history by qualifying for the FIFA Men's World Cup for the first time,
19:18with Dutchman Leo Benhaka being the one to take them to Germany in 2006.
19:22Following his death at the age of 82,
19:24the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association has issued a statement
19:27to pay tribute to the man nicknamed Don Leo.
19:31According to the TTFA,
19:32when Benhaka accepted the job,
19:34he walked into a dream many thought was unreachable,
19:37but turned it into a living reality.
19:40Leo was more than a coach to Trinidad and Tobago.
19:42He was a visionary leader, a mentor, and above all, a believer.
19:47The Football Association further states,
19:49the journey to Germany was more than just football,
19:52as it was also about belief, identity, and hope.
19:55Leo saw not just athletes, but ambassadors in our Soka Warriors.
20:01He nurtured talent, instilled discipline, and brought out the best in every player.
20:07Former player, now coach Dwight York, has also paid tribute to Benhaka.
20:11He says, quote,
20:12He was more than a tactician.
20:14He was a leader who respected the culture,
20:16earned our trust, and inspired a nation.
20:19I will always be grateful for his impact, unquote.
20:22And another erstwhile player in Sting John says, quote,
20:24He loved me like a son, and I loved him like a father.
20:28His wisdom, warmth, and endless passion for the game will stay with me forever, unquote.
20:34We know what now on your team's export.
20:36But in some good news, the West Indies women bounced back from defeat
20:40in their Women's Cricket World Cup Qualifier opener,
20:44with a victory over Ireland last week.
20:46The Caribbean women held their nerves as Hayley Matthews grabbed four wickets,
20:50including the vital match winner to pull off the narrow six-run win over the Irish ladies.
20:56So much of the West Indies' fortune rests on the shoulders of the skipper Hayley Matthews.
21:03She is all-class, and that's the perfect way to get her account up and running.
21:09But after smashing 100 in the last match, she would fall on 23.
21:13So do Tazorla Prendergast.
21:15Kiana Joseph followed her soon after, increasing the pressure on the rest of the order.
21:23Zeta James and veteran Stefanie Taylor would start building a foundation with a partnership of 87.
21:31And when that was broken, Chanel Henry would play a steady hand with an unbeaten joint top score of 46.
21:40However, the Caribbean women were not scoring as freely as they would have hoped.
21:43And would settle for a total of 181 for 6 of their 33 overs.
21:52After Scotland stunned the Windies, Ireland were looking to join them after a 50-run opening stand.
21:59But as always, the Caribbean women would lean on their skipper.
22:06She would literally put her hands on the game with a pair of wickets.
22:09West Knees would grab four wickets for 23 runs as Hayley Matthews was involved in the majority.
22:17Who else would it be?
22:18It's that woman again, Hayley Matthews.
22:21She does it with the bat, she does it with the ball, and now she's doing it in the field too.
22:25But Ireland would regroup as if they kept their chances of victory alive with lower order knocks.
22:30That's going to be four.
22:31Christina Coulter-Riley and Arlene Kelly were the ones pushing the Irish with scores of 26 and 18 respectively.
22:38Yeah, the outfield's more than quick.
22:40But three quick wickets from Aliyah Alain, Karishma Ramharak and Matthews would leave the Caribbean women one wicket away from victory.
22:47Oh, she's got to do an awful lot to get that from around the wicket.
22:50However, Arlene Kelly's boundary here would also push the Irish women on the cusp of victory at 174 for nine.
22:57This of this field because everyone's up on the offside.
23:00Good batting, good innovation from Kelly, good recognition of where.
23:03But the skipper would come to the rescue for the West Indies once more.
23:07Down the ground, Longharn has gone out and takes the catch.
23:11That's going to be that for the West Indies.
23:14They hold their nerve in a thriller.
23:16The Caribbean women holding their nerves to win their first group match, but only just.
23:21Terrence Clark, TV6 Sport.
23:24And that's a wrap on the past seven days on six.
23:27I am Renessa Cutting.
23:28If you didn't catch this segment in its entirety, you can find it on our website, www.tv6tnt.com.
23:36And you can find all these stories and more on the TV6 mobile app.
23:41Thanks for choosing TV6 and do have a great evening.
23:46We'll see you next time.
24:16Good evening and welcome to the past seven days on six.
24:20I am Renessa Cutting.
24:22Here's what made the news this past week.
24:25TNT's OPAC licenses for the Dragon Gas and Coquina Mannequin Gas deals were evoked.
24:31The finance minister said there is no money to pay workers 10% increments as promised by the UNC.
24:38And Leo Benhaka passed on.
24:40As per usual, if it was happening, it was on six.
24:44Let's get right into it.
24:46If you don't have the money, get out and let the UNC pay workers.
24:51It was the message to the finance minister and the PNM from the opposition leader last week after the finance minister said this country cannot afford to pay workers a 10% increase as proposed by the UNC.
25:05If you don't have the money, man, if you don't have the money, get the hell out of there.
25:10And we will find the money to pay the workers.
25:13Get the hell out of there.
25:15Move.
25:16Move.
25:18Move and let me pass.
25:20Move and let me pass.
25:22Go.
25:23You have to go.
25:24A blistering admonishment from the UNC's political leader last evening after the newly appointed finance minister made a public announcement on Wednesday that the country cannot afford to pay the wage increments being proposed by the UNC.
25:39Proposals are also being made in the public domain, not by this government, to commence public sector wage negotiations at a 10% increase, which could cause taxpayers between $6 billion in back pay, $6 and $7 billion in back pay.
25:57While if you take it up to the higher level of 14% to 15%, that would increase the amount of between $8.5 to $10 billion in back pay alone.
26:08How will this balloon fiscal deficit of close to $20 billion be financed?
26:14Definitely not through the fiscal accounts.
26:16While some view the finance minister's statements as reasonable, all Passat possesses sees is an admission of failure on the part of the PNM.
26:27Take note, the PNM minister of finance is saying nothing for workers over the next five years.
26:35Only 28th.
26:36Vote them all out.
26:37Vote them out.
26:38We are saying there was money and there still is money to pay workers a fair salary and their back pay.
26:53Passat possesses is also pledging to bring back the baby grant and to pay out over $100 million to former cane farmers.
27:01Tonight I commit the U.N.C. will pay the cane farmers the entire outstanding sum of $110 million due to them.
27:15Former Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley returned to the campaign trail last week
27:19during a PNM campaign meeting in the marginal Barataria San Juan constituency on Friday night
27:25with a warning for public servants with regard to the U.N.C.'s campaign promises to make their lives better.
27:33Ladies and gentlemen, I have come here tonight to join the election campaign of 2025.
27:47PNM political leader Dr. Keith Rowley in his first campaign speech
27:51since Energy Minister Stuart Young was appointed as Prime Minister last month
27:55after Dr. Rowley retired as the head of the government.
27:59And Dr. Rowley did not mince his words about some of the U.N.C.'s campaign promises.
28:04And let me tell you what my source of information tells me
28:07when I try to understand what the U.N.C. is about.
28:10You know what the U.N.C. is saying quietly and secretly?
28:13If they ever get to that situation where they're coming to office
28:18and they can't pay the bills that they're committed to
28:21and they cut the public service, it's mainly PNM supporters that can be affected
28:25because the bulk of the public service is East West Corridor people supporting the PNM.
28:30And he gave his first public comments about the Donald Trump-led U.S. government
28:35having revoked its waivers of certain sanctions against Venezuela
28:39granted by the previous Joe Biden administration
28:43that advanced the deals for the supply of natural gas
28:46from Venezuela's jargon and mannequin coquina fields to Trinidad and Tobago.
28:51Dr. Rowley spoke about the efforts by the government he once led
28:55to secure those deals as well as the separation of a field
28:58that allows Venezuela to extract gas from its larger side
29:03and Trinidad and Tobago to extract gas from its side.
29:06Jargon is a three-and-a-half trillion cubic feet field.
29:13Loran manatee is a 10 trillion cubic feet field.
29:19So all this thing about jargon, jargon, jargon,
29:23the bigger fish that is being fried now is manatee.
29:28Earlier this week, the political leader of the U.N.C.,
29:31opposition leader Kamala Passat-Besessa, also commented on the matter.
29:35I don't gloat about that failure of the drug and gas
29:38because anything that could help us to help our revenue streams
29:42is important and we support.
29:45But the U.N.C. government will renegotiate
29:47with all our trading partners in the best interest of Trinidad and Tobago.
29:58The PNM put all their eggs in Maduro's basket.
30:02Dr. Rowley told his party's line that the government
30:05did not put all of its eggs in one basket.
30:09If the U.N.C. is the government that keeps insulting the Venezuelan government,
30:15the Venezuelan people, and turn their back on trade with Venezuela,
30:21can't you see how that also threatens the Loran manatee project?
30:26In July of last year, global energy giant Shell announced
30:30its Trinidad and Tobago subsidiary had taken a final investment decision
30:36on the manatee project.
30:38Jewel Brown, TV6 News.
30:41We had a quick break. We'll have more news when we return.
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