Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley has rejected claims by Tobago House of Assembly (THA) Chief Secretary Farley Augustine about Government attempting to cover up what and who may have caused the oil pill, which is impacting the southwest coast.
Speaking in the House of Representatives on Friday, Rowley also dismissed claims by Augustine of a cover-up of the spill being linked to an alleged interest in a former Petrotrin refinery in Pt Fortin as “patently ridiculous.”
Rowley pointed out that the national oil spill contingency plan is currently at tier 2 to deal with the spill.
The PM said this means “we are handling the situation according to plan but may require a bit of outside help. “However we have not invoked the declaration of a tier 3 emergency.”
Rowley said that in a bid to identify the vessels involved and their owners, a multi-pronged local, regional and international investigation is currently underway.
He vowed that the people responsible for the oil spill will be held accountable.
He supported earlier statements made in the sitting by Energy Minister Stuart Young about efforts currently underway to safely remove the liquid cargo from the barge and prevent any further environmental damage.