THE EDITOR: The Joint Trade Union Movement (JTUM) still believes that national companies like Patriotic Patriotic Energies and Technologies Ltd would eventually become the essential owners of the Pointe-a-Pierre oil refinery.

Trevor Johnson, JTUM’s assistant general secretary and general secretary of the Banking, Insurance and General Workers Union, reiterated that Patriotic, through parent union OWTU, would have submitted a most comprehensive and strategic plan and met and surpassed every requirement along the way. He indicated that the Government and other experts concluded it was the best offer on the table.

Also, Patriotic has demonstrated its potential to fund and operate the former Petrotrin refinery and port at a profit.

Contractors and General Workers Trade Union’s (CGWTU) general secretary Ermine De Bique is of the view that if this deal is closed there would be a gradual turnaround in the national economy. President general of the All Trinidad General Workers Trade Union (ATGWTU), Nirvan Maharaj, said it is the first time in the history of the country that workers have demonstrated their potential to own and control a piece of the nation’s assets. David Forbes, general secretary of the TT Postal Workers Union (TTPWU), recapitulated that the Government, in the interest of the nation, should treat Patriotic candidly.

Historically, Patriotic was the only national company that made a bid for the refinery and it has demonstrated its relentless commitment by investing millions of dollars to get the best international business and technical support in the packaging of its solid proposal.

Finance Minister Colm Imbert said in 2019 in Parliament that the bid put forward by Patriotic was most appealing with a proposal made to restart operations within 12 months. According to a TTT News report, “Minister Imbert said from the results for the request for proposals for the sale of the refinery, Patriotic was the only bidder that offered an upfront consideration of US$700 million.”

A foreign company is now attracting the close attention of the Government as the preferred bidder. Moreover, the president general of the OWTU, Ancel Roget, has reiterated passionately in his Labour Day address in Fyzabad that Patriotic stands ready to purchase the oil refinery in the interest of the nation.

PEDRO MULRAIN

via e-mail

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