$50 Million Not Enough: Chief Secretary Farley Augustine Displeased with Oil Spill Funding for Tobago
Chief Secretary Farley Augustine says $50 Million for oil spill relief is not enough; President of A.T.F.A. condemns the Finance Minister for failing to honour fishermen’s claims.
Scarborough, Tobago – June 6, 2024 – Chief Secretary Farley Augustine is not pleased that the central government only approved $50 million for oil spill relief efforts in the supplemental appropriation bill for fiscal 2024. This allocated amount represents only a third of the $153 million request made by the Tobago House of Assembly (THA), which was burdened with a hefty bill for cleanup and response efforts following the February 7th Gulfstream oil spill.
During the Standing Finance Committee Meeting in Parliament, Finance Minister Colm Imbert stated that they determined $50 million would suffice based on documentation provided by the THA. Meanwhile, fishermen are outraged that their claims for compensation were not specifically considered in the $50 million allocation, highlighting ongoing concerns about the economic impact of the Tobago oil spill and the adequacy of relief funding.
