Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has criticised the former administration’s 2018 decision to shut down the Petrotrin refinery, accusing it of undermining organised labour.
Speaking on the eve of Labour Day, as the Government passed the Miscellaneous Provisions (Amendment) Bill 2026 aimed at strengthening workers’ rights, she also assured that her administration will continue to protect workers.
During debate on the Miscellaneous Provisions (Heritage Petroleum, Paria Fuel Trading and Guaracara Refining Vesting) (Amendment) Bill 2026, Prime Minister, Kamla Persad-Bissessar argued that the Petrotrin refinery’s closure disrupted collective bargaining and weakened labour protections.
“There was another great injustice that was taking place, the voice of workers and the voices of workers were being removed. The continuity of collective bargaining was broken. And the rights of organized labour were being extinguished. This bill here today, Madam Deputy, we are here to correct that wrong, we are here to restore what should never have been taken away from the workers.”
She also criticised former Energy Minister Stuart Young, questioning why worker protections were not prioritised at the time.
“And today you come to justify why you closed down. But not once did you tell us why you did not consider successive rights for the workers, as has been done in the past. You have the precedent. Not a single word about why it is. So I no longer want to know why the member on the other side told it’s fit to shut down Petrotrin because I say the truth will come to light one day. We want to know why did you bust the union? That’s what you’re doing, you’re busting union. That was union busting. That’s what you did then, to shut them up.”
Mrs. Persad-Bissessar further referenced Petrotrin’s financial position at the time of its closure, citing figures from Trinidad Petroleum Holdings.
“And in the last year of its operations, as of September 2018, Petrotrin made profits of $1.697 billion. $1.697 billion. That is the rhetoric that you fed the country while you shut it down. You know, one day, we always said, God doesn’t sleep. He wears pajamas sometimes. And one day, we will find out why it is, after the former, former prime Minister said, Petrotrin not closing down. Why did they really shut down Petrotrin? Why?”
Despite this, the Prime Minister welcomed the passage of the amendment, noting that it creates a clear framework for worker representation and collective bargaining.
“The act establishes as I said a bit earlier, a comprehensive statutory framework, which allows workers to organise, obtain recognition and bargain collectively through a majority representative trade union.”
As the country prepares to observe Labour Day, she also commended the Oilfield Workers’ Trade Union for standing by its members during difficult times.
She said the passage of the legislation reflects her Government’s commitment to delivering on promises made to workers.
“Last Labour Day we committed so on the eve of this one I want to say with my comrades, forward ever, backward never, thank you very much.”
The Miscellaneous Provisions (Heritage Petroleum, Paria Fuel Trading and Guaracara Refining Vesting) (Amendment) Bill, 2026″ was passed in the Lower House on Thursday, with 26 votes in favour, no votes against, and 13 abstentions.