Environmental Disaster Waiting to Happen: Chief Secretary Augustine Warns on Studley Park Fuel Storage & Criticizes Funding for Tobago Oil Spill Cleanup
C.S. Farley Augustine says they do not have funds to properly dispose bunker fuel from oil spill temporarily being stored at Studley Park.
Scarborough, Tobago – June 24, 2024 – Chief Secretary Farley Augustine today stated that there is an environmental disaster waiting to happen at Studley Park, Tobago, due to the temporary storage of bunker fuel from the Gulfstream oil spill. Speaking during his budget presentation, he criticized the central government for allocating only $50 million in the mid-year review after the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) had initially requested $153 million.
Augustine asserted that the higher sum was specifically requested to cover the ongoing onshore cleanup efforts and the crucial disposal of toxic waste. His stark warning highlights significant concerns about the long-term management of oil spill waste and the adequacy of central government funding for Tobago’s environmental recovery.
