Member of Parliament for La Brea and Minister in the Ministry of Public Utilities, Clyde Elder, has condemned what he described as a blatant attack on Trade Unions by the former Government, through the closure of Petrotrin.
Minister Elder voiced his full support for The Miscellaneous Provisions (Amendment) Bill 2026, during debate in Parliament on Thursday.
He argued that the refinery’s closure not only displaced workers, but also significantly impacted Trinidad and Tobago’s foreign exchange earnings.
“After the closure of Petrotrin and of the refinery especially, we could no longer take crude oil, import it as well, refine it and if we buy it for a dollar, we sell the refined product for five dollars, and therefore we would have a gross earning on foreign exchange. Now what we have to do is sell the oil, hope to get a good price for it, and then buy fuel.”
Meanwhile, Member of Parliament for Point Fortin, and also Minister in the Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries, Ernesto Kesar highlighted ongoing concerns affecting former Petrotrin workers, particularly the delay in receiving land promised as part of their severance packages.
He noted that many workers are still awaiting deeds for those lands, but indicated that Government is now working to address the issue.
“Upon checking those lands were state lands, and some of those lands are Caroni lands, one or two parcel belong to PSCL, up to now Madam Deputy Speaker, the workers of Petrotrin are still waiting on their land. and that it is difficult just for now, because we now, in this Government, we are going through the paces now to do some restructuring of the loan to free up the loan”