TEMA Leading And Managing Efforts In Oil Spill Response

Scarborough, Tobago – February 7th, 2024 – The Tobago Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) has officially taken the lead in managing the critical oil spill response off the coast of Tobago. This decision followed an emergency response meeting held by the Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries (MEEI) on Wednesday, February 7th, 2024.

The MEEI received initial information from the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard (TTCG) at 9:00 AM on February 7th, confirming an oil-like substance was observed emanating from an overturned vessel in the area of Canoe Bay, Tobago.

In response, a high-level emergency meeting convened at 2:00 PM the same day, bringing together key agencies including the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard (TTCG), Institute of Marine Affairs (IMA), Environmental Management Authority (EMA), Maritime Services Division (MSD) of the Ministry of Works and Transport, Tobago Emergency Management Agency (TEMA), and the Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries (MEEI). During this crucial discussion, TEMA confirmed that the “Tobago Oil Spill Contingency Plan” had been immediately triggered, establishing TEMA as the lead agency for the response.

The MEEI also affirmed its readiness to provide comprehensive technical support to TEMA in managing this incident, having dispatched a team to Tobago to offer assistance should TEMA and the Tobago House of Assembly require it. This coordinated effort marks the beginning of a significant undertaking to contain and clean up the environmental impact of the spill on Tobago’s waters and coastlines.

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