00:00Trinidad and Tobago has recorded five work-related deaths in the petroleum sector in less than five years,
00:07news of which have even made international headlines.
00:10Now the government is moving to develop a modern regulatory framework for onshore and offshore operations.
00:18And as part of that process, state officials see they will be visiting oil rigs to assess conditions.
00:25I would like all of us to be given that opportunity to visit an oil rig and understand those conditions.
00:33Tell me all, you all support that? You all support that, comrades?
00:41So oil rig, here we come. We will find out about what are the conditions that people are exposed to.
00:49Stakeholders met today to consult on a draft policy, with particular focus on identifying regulatory gaps and strengthening the safety
00:59framework.
01:00The roles and functions contemplated for the authority under the Occupational Safety and Health Act have never been fully operationalized.
01:10Under the guidance of Senator Honourable Leroy Batiste, we are now advancing that important work.
01:17Full operationalization will enable stronger strategic leadership, oversight and accountability in occupational safety and health,
01:27and better support the national system responsible for protecting workers.
01:33Minister in the Ministry of Energy, Ernesto Keasar, believes the move is timely.
01:38As he says, the country is on the cusp of an energy boom.
01:43The time has come because of where we are.
01:46And in a short while, Exxon may make a very big announcement.
01:51Maybe. I mean, I'm seeing all of the intonations in the international press.
01:57I'm not now talking about us because of the Swiss politicians.
02:00We will say anything to make us look good, of course.
02:04But indeed, the international press has been intonating that Exxon is on to something.
02:11It has become critical now to complement the already existing strong laws, which is the OSH Act itself,
02:20with something that is specific to the safe operations of oil rigs.
02:25Meantime, OWTU President General Ansel Roji is making a case for the unionization of workers in the petroleum sector.
02:35I'm suggesting this morning, before I say anything else,
02:39that had we had trade union representation in the Paria situation,
02:47and in the Pete Phillips situation, we would not have had those fatalities.
02:55You see, it is a belief of some, as hard as it is to hear this morning,
03:00it is a belief of some that if we keep the trade unions,
03:04our trade unions with all of the experience in health and safety and so on,
03:09in demanding the protection of lives of our members,
03:12if we keep them out, we'll be more profitable.
03:16And therefore, no profit is a good profit if the life of a worker is invested.
03:28Renasa Cutting, TV6 News.
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