00:00Only last week, Fisherfolk in Lambeau-Tobago held a media briefing complaining that they have received no compensation for the
00:08oil spill from the THA, as was promised last December by Chief Secretary Farley-Augustin on the campaign trail.
00:15And I don't use the term compensation because compensation would suggest that the THA has been liable for the oil
00:24spill. We were not liable for the oil spill. We did not cause the oil spill. We are providing support
00:29to Fisherfolk. And those in that industry there in Lambeau should have received the support a long time ago.
00:40Chief Secretary Farley-Augustin said an investigation is underway into allegations of a payment made by one fisherman to fast
00:49track his check.
00:50As a matter of fact, it's very irritating to know that we will put measures in place as an executive.
00:56We will ensure all the necessary releases and so on are done. And the support does not meet the people
01:02who are supposed to get it.
01:04Chief Secretary Farley- If you were in my staff meeting that I had two weeks ago, I said to
01:10those there, I said, look, when you are called to take action based on a file before you, you're not
01:16really doing it for the Chief Secretary, you're doing it for the people of Tobago.
01:22Chief Secretary Farley- But in this particular issue, we are also investigating a claim that someone said that a
01:29public officer at the division told him that they must pay something to get their check. You have to pay
01:34nothing to get your check.
01:35The THA is also investigating a report from another fisherman who was told to visit the division to collect his
01:43check, but was told subsequently that no check was available.
01:47Chief Secretary Farley- Mr. Agustin says steps are being taken to ensure that payments owed to Lambeau fisherfolk are
01:55processed within the next two weeks.
01:57Chief Secretary Farley- And we're looking to see if in the shortest possible time, within a two-week period,
02:02we could have this matter resolved for the fisherfolk in Lambeau.
02:06Agustin spoke during a media briefing on Sunday afternoon. Elizabeth Williams, TV6 News.
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