PETROTRIN WORKERS GET LAND & HEALTHCARE

CCNTV6

Seven years after the closure of the Petrotrin refinery, the Government says key commitments to former workers are finally taking shape. Two medical facilities are being reopened, and Cabinet is now considering allocating Petrotrin lands to thousands of ex-employees. Urvashi Tiwari Roopnarine reports

Transcript

00:00The restart of Trinidad's refinery remains a major campaign promise.

00:05But on Sunday, government signaled progress on another critical commitment,

00:10restoring medical care for former Petrotrin workers.

00:14Minister in the Energy Ministry, Ernesto Kizar,

00:16announced the reopening of two former Petrotrin medical facilities.

00:21It's the commitment of the government of Trinidad and Tobago,

00:24and led by our Prime Minister, Mrs. Kamala-Pasad-Bissessa, SCMP,

00:32to sit with the stakeholders, which will be Heritage, Petrotrin Legacy,

00:39the Ministry of Health, and also the OWTU,

00:43and to come up with, in the shortest possible time,

00:48shortest time, a clear plan to have these centres reopened,

00:56and we're hoping within the next six months,

00:58hoping, and again media, but hoping,

01:01in front of our words, please, but hoping,

01:03we're hoping within the next six months,

01:06to have these centres reopened and accessible

01:08to Petrotrin workers and their families.

01:11One of those centres at Guaracara had been earmarked for early restoration,

01:18and despite significant vandalism at the facility in Santa Flora,

01:22Minister Kizar says that too will be soon up and running.

01:27The Guaracara Medical Facility, the building is strong,

01:30it's structurally strong,

01:33and that's a fun fact,

01:35all of your medical records are still there,

01:37even though you receive copies of it.

01:39Every worker who would have passed through,

01:42all of your medical records are still there,

01:44because they kept a copy because of law,

01:46they have to keep,

01:47they have to keep,

01:48so your medical records are still there,

01:51which would include your dependents and so on,

01:53it's still there,

01:54and that in going through brothers and sisters,

01:57some work could be done in a particular length of time

02:02to restore that Guaracara Medical Facility.

02:06And that was just the first announcement,

02:08Minister Kizar revealed he has been instructed to prepare a comprehensive report for Cabinet,

02:14one that could see former workers receiving a portion of Petrotrin's 76,000 acres.

02:21To prepare a report for the perusal of the Cabinet of Trinidad and Tobago

02:29that will encompass all of the workers of Petrotrin,

02:34all, all, all, permanent, casual, temporary,

02:38for consideration,

02:39listen to my words carefully,

02:41for consideration and approval where necessary

02:44by the Cabinet of Trinidad and Tobago

02:47to be given the land that was committed to you.

02:50The number of beneficiaries is expected to exceed 5,900 workers.

02:57The Minister also assured OWTU members

02:59that the refinery restart process is advancing.

03:02This week, the final report will be forwarded to the Cabinet

03:10and that the OWTU, this is my advice,

03:16the OWTU remains a key partner in the refinery restart process.

03:22And on the long-debated issue of union successorship,

03:26government appears ready to act.

03:28Through our Honourable Comrade and Friend,

03:34Honourable Minister of Labor, Comrade Leroy Batiste,

03:39he has been advised to pilot a motion

03:45through the Cabinet and then through the Parliament, of course,

03:50and that will involve the Attorney General, of course,

03:52to have the Cabinet approve,

03:57well, consider first, and after consider,

04:00approve, if after they consider, they believe so, yes,

04:04the successorship of the OWTU

04:07to all of the five areas in what is now called

04:10the 21st century.

04:13He made these announcements

04:15as the OWTU marked the seventh anniversary

04:18of the refinery's closure at its Poynter Payer Headquarters.

04:22Ravashit Tawari, Rupnarain, TV6 News.

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