On numerous occasions FFOS has provided samples for the EMA and the IMA to test – fish, crabs, shark, pelicans, and bottle nose dolphins – yet we have never received a single report, or even a definit…
September 20th 2016 Due to conflicting information provided to the media over the past few months, FFOS now seeks to clarify the evidence on the on-going Fish Kills in the South Western peninsula…
Date: September 21st ,2016 Dear Editor/Newsroom, In light of the independent laboratory analysis conducted by the Caribbean Industrial Research Institute (CARIRI) for Fishermen and Friends of…
September 23rd 2016 Fishermen and Friends of the Sea (FFOS) have addressed two open letters respectfully seeking an urgent meeting with the two highest office holders of our Republic, His Excellen…
Date: September 28th,2016 Dear Editor/Newsroom, December 17, 2013 Since the unprecedented Petrotrin oil spill of 2013 a wide variety marine life continues to wash ashore, dead or dying on…
Date: April 3rd , 2017 Dear Editor/Newsroom, Attached is also an audio clipping of the following press statement. Venezuela Invades Trinidad and Tobago! Fishermen and Friends of the Sea (F…
Should we not have a Law that forces all oil companies to report ALL OR ANY oil spills? How many spills are reported and how many go unreported?
Every time there is an oil spill, a cosmetic clean up occurs and they pretend that the problem is solved. The problem is never solved because the cause of the problem has never been addressed
Until and unless our elected leaders act with accountability and good public administration they will continue to cause untold hardship for countless communities who are without a voice.
While many many new Pelicans continue to be discovered drenched in thick black oil, Fishermen and Friends of the Sea (FFOS) is wondering if the oil spill was ever contained and cleaned up. And what ab…
Date: May 8th , 2017 Dear Editor/Newsroom, Unaccetable Secrecy at a Time of National Disaster The reported deaths of three Venezuelan men, whose boat capsized after their engine failed wh…
Unless negligent officers and Companies are held accountable by OSHA and other Authorities and Agencies, they will continue to drown all of us in an endless sea of oil.
Date: May 11th , 2017 Dear Editor/Newsroom, Fishermen and Friends of the Sea (FFOS) have received pictures today (Thursday 11th may 2017) which clearly show larger fishes such as catfish, ar…
However rehabilitation does not end, just by recuing the birds and releasing them back in the wild. What’s the point in rehabilitating these birds if their probability of survival is low?
Date: June 13th , 2017 Dear Editor/Newsroom, Warnings must be Issued!!! Fishermen and Friends of the Sea (FFOS) call on the Right Honourable Prime Minister to intervene and ensure Ministe…
Date: May 19th , 2017 Dear Editor/Newsroom, Chaguaramas once again covered with dead Fish Fishermen and Friends of the Sea (FFOS) are once again reporting that presently as we write Calypso Mar…
Date: May 31st , 2017 Dear Editor/Newsroom, The Rains have started= ongoing La Brea fish kills. The rains have started and as Fishermen and Friends of the Sea (FFOS) have accurately pred…
Date: May 25th , 2017 Dear Editor/Newsroom, “Guardians of the Sea”…..? The Institute of Marine Affairs (IMA) has recently released the 2016 State of the Marine Environment Report wh…
Date: May 25th , 2017 Dear Editor/Newsroom, The Chaguaramas Fish Kill Continues……. Fishermen and Friends of the Sea (FFOS) report that on Monday 22nd May at 6.30pm, tens of thousands…
The Government of Trinidad and Tobago have not acted responsibly in informing and issuing regional and public warnings to our neighbouring countries who were in the pathway of the oil clumps floating…
Date: June 13th , 2017 Dear Editor/Newsroom, Oil clumps have turned into tar on Bonaire’s east coasts. Clean up efforts have begun on the oil clumps/tar polluted coastal areas Sorobon a…
Date: June 1st , 2017 Dear Editor/Newsroom, Why delay Beverage Containers Bill? When business leaders lead, the world gets closer to sustainability. Fishermen and Friends of the Sea (F…
Date: June 3rd , 2017 Dear Editor/Newsroom, World Environment Day must be more than lip service… Fishermen and Friends of the Sea (FFOS) are proud that the United Nations has designated…
Date: June 8th , 2017 Dear Editor/Newsroom, We must protect our wetlands. Although hunters kill the Scarlet Ibis, with its habitat the birds will continue to repopulate. When their na…
Date: July 3th 2017 Dear Editor/Newsroom, The Honourable Minister has whitewashed this can of worms. We quote from the Post-Cabinet Press Briefing Summary: “Minister Cuffie noted that the G…
Unless our Government treats this health disaster with a matter of extreme urgency, they will continue to endorse the endangerment of public life and public health. This is no matter to play politics …
FFOS continue to appeal to the Government and our environmental institutions to share this eminent scientific analysis, or to conduct scientific analysis (if none has been done) instead of blurting ou…
When Ministers deliberately lie in Parliament and the Prime Minister by his silence gives consent, the respect for all Cabinet utterances, and the reputation of our beleaguered nation is brought into …
Shouldn’t there be environmental transparency and accountability instead of secrecy?
Date: August 15th 2017 Dear Editor/Newsroom, The attached letter was sent to the Honourable Camille Robinson-Regis, Minister of Planning and Development on August 7th 2017 and was copied to Hi…
Unless preventive measures are first exhausted, we risk ecosystem imbalances such as the decimation of insectivorous bats and beneficial pollinators, and the cumulative impacts of long-term neurotoxin…
Despite Petrotrin’s complete control and monopoly over all the shallow most lucrative oil fields, we are being forced to finance this failing state enterprise who have no shame in posting a 4.5 Bill…
As we face major global energy supply adjustments in an ever changing and more competitive world environment can we afford to risk national welfare for the sake of one more blatantly corrupt mismanage…
Date: October 4th 2017 Dear Editor/Newsroom, Fishermen and Friends of the Sea (FFOS) have on 29th September 2017, filed an application for Leave for a Judicial Review of the decision by the E…
Date: October 6th 2017 Dear Editor/Newsroom, Fishermen and Friends of the Sea (FFOS) congratulate the Honourable Minister of Finance for proposing to implement an “environmental tax” of $2…
If FFOS did not report this disaster, would it have gone unnoticed?
Date: October 16th 2017 Dear Editor/Newsroom, Fishermen and Friends of the Sea (FFOS) hereby warn all seafarers and fisher-folk from the Cocorite, Charlieville, Felicity, Brick Field, Orange V…
Why are the public and primary stakeholders being kept in the dark? Is the Government protecting someone?
Unless there is social justice for our people by the firm enforcement of Law, the foundation of our democracy will continue to crumble.
Unless each one of us seize the privilege to take responsibility and to protect our vulnerable and those without a voice, the trend of institutional decay and corporate irresponsibility will continue …
Date: October 27th 2017 Dear Editor/Newsroom, In 2014 Fishermen and Friends of the Sea (FFOS) (the Claimant) judicially reviewed the Environment Management Authority’s (EMA’s) decision to issue a…
Date: November 12th 2017 Dear Editor/Newsroom, Fishermen and Friends of the Sea (FFOS) commend Dr. Terrence Farrell, Chairman of the Government appointed Economic Development Advisory Board (E…
Petrotrin continues to frequently wreak havoc with its dilapidated infrastructure.
Date: November 27th, 2017 Dear Editor/Newsroom, Please see attached for the Judgement handed down by the Privy Council Privy Council Rules for FFOS The Judicial Committee of the Privy…
Date: November 29th, 2017 Dear Editor/Newsroom, The recent victory of Fishermen and Friends of the Sea, (FFOS) in its challenge to the Water Pollution (Fees) Regulations, 2001 (and by extensi…
Date: December 22nd 2017 Dear Editor/Newsroom, Fishermen and Friends of the Sea (FFOS) regret to inform you that it is being forced to consider injunctive relief against the Government. …
Date: January 5th, 2018 Dear Editor/Newsroom, Currently, excavators are modifying the course of the Las Cuevas River, where it meets the beach. The developer, George Aboud and Sons, has no en…
These five shrimp trawlers are openly violating the Shrimp Trawl Regulations under the watchful eyes of Government. FFOS have made public and have reported alleged conflicts of interest within the Co…
Date: January 13th 2018 Dear Editor/Newsroom, On Monday 8th January, 2018, heavy earth works machinery including several bulldozers, excavators and road preparation equipment have arrived at t…
Date: January 15th 2018 Dear Editor/Newsroom, One week has passed since the heavy earth moving machinery started bulldozing the southern boundary of the Aripo Savannas including the historic t…
Videos-and-Pictures19-1-18Download
Date: January 20th 2018 Dear Editor/Newsroom, FFOS are being criticized based on misinformation and petty bias. Throughout its twenty years of advocacy for sustainable development which means …
Date: January 28th 2018 Dear Editor/Newsroom, Many people are suddenly in favour of this controversial highway as if to suggest that FFOS are opposed to it. FFOS have never said we should not …
Date: January 31s 2018 Dear Editor/Newsroom, The Bloomberg exposé has brought to light a dark reality that Fishermen and Friends of the Sea (FFOS) have been cautioned not to speak about. T…
Is the Government by extension respecting the Court?
Date: February 1st 2018 Dear Editor/Newsroom, The Fishermen and Friends of the Sea (FFOS) considers Minister Rohan Sinanan’s statement that the injunction granted by the Court in the interes…
Date: February 3rd 2018 Dear Editor/Newsroom, Fishermen and Friends of the Sea (FFOS) wish to respond to Minister Rohan Sinanan’s public statements made at the Sangre Grande Chamber of Comm…
Date: February 9th 2018 Dear Editor/Newsroom, It is a wonderful day for ecological justice as we have had a successful day in the court of appeal. FFOS had 2 applications before the court and …
Who is protecting the vulnerable human and nonhuman communities exposed to the toxic and fatal COREXIT 9500? Who is speaking for the marine animals who reside in this area and continue to die day aft…
Date: February 27th 2018 Dear Editor/Newsroom, Dr. Rowley has encouraged lawlessness and disrespects his office when he broadcasts falsehoods about the Toco Manzanilla Highway. The Prime Minis…
Date: March 2nd , 2018 Dear Editor/Newsroom, On 27th November 2017 , the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council overturned the Trinidad and Tobago Appeal Court judgement handed down by Ju…
Date: March 3rd, 2018 Dear Editor/Newsroom, On Friday 2nd March 2018, the Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries (MEEI) reported “a 10-barrel oil spill” identifying the source as a 6-in…
When the Government turns a blind eye and allows even the smallest of Laws to be broken every Law in every corner of the country is weakened.
Unless our Authorities act with haste a serious public endangerment will continue. FFOS will continue on its sometimes lonely pilgrimage to protect the voiceless.
Date: March 26th, 2018 Dear Editor/Newsroom, The FFOS appeal for leave for judicial review for the grant of a CEC for the construction of the 5000m highway, from Cumuto to Sangre Grande, alo…
Date: April 6th 2018 Dear Editor/Newsroom, On 4th April 2018, Fishermen and Friends of the Sea (FFOS) have initiated a Direct Private Party Action against the Ministry of Works and Transport …
Date: April 11th, 2018 Dear Editor/Newsroom, Today there is now a free flow of persons, creatures, and contraband through the Venezuelan-Trinidadian marine border. Seasoned seamen know that…
Date: April 17th, 2018 Dear Editor/Newsroom, Fishermen and Friends of the Sea have always been in favor of a port in Toco. Today, FFOS have written to the Environmental Management Authority …
Date: April 18th, 2018 Dear Editor/Newsroom, Please see attached for a voice recording of this statement. National Infrastructure Development Company Limited ( NIDCO)’s Project Enginee…
Date: April 19th, 2018 Dear Editor/Newsroom, Fishermen and Friends of the Sea (FFOS) welcome development for Las Cuevas that preserves the integrity of the natural capital and biodiversity of…
Date: April 20th 2018 Dear Editor/Newsroom, Fisherman and Friends of the Sea (FFOS) today scored a landmark victory in the Court of Appeal when it was granted leave to appeal to the Privy Coun…
Date: April 27th , 2018 Dear Editor/Newsroom, Massy Stores must be commended for taking the lead in promoting zero tolerance for plastic bags. According to the Center for Biological Div…
Date: May 2nd, 2018 Dear Editor/Newsroom, Fishermen and Friends of the Sea (FFOS) have represented public interest issues in Las Cuevas since its inception in 1996. In 2004 the current owne…
Date: June 1st, 2018 Dear Editor/Newsroom, Twenty years ago Fishermen and Friends of the Sea (FFOS) began representing Maracas Beach shark and bake vendors. The problems then were never suffi…
Date: June 18th, 2018 Dear Editor/Newsroom, FFOS take strong objection to unsubstantiated and speculative statements. At the beginning of every rainy season since the December 17th 2013 P…
Date: June 30th , 2018 Dear Editor/Newsroom, For the past 52 months since the 2013 Petrotrin oil spills, sudden, major and ongoing fish kills have been re-occurring daily in the “clearly de…
Date: June 29th, 2018 Dear Editor/Newsroom, The press release below was intended as a warning for the Environmental Management Authority (EMA) to prevent the destruction of the Cuesa River an…
Date: July 5th, 2018 Dear Editor/Newsroom, FFOS commends and supports the President of the Law Association, Mr. Douglas Mendes, SC, for his letters (dated Friday 29th June, 2018) to the Attor…
Date: July 7th , 2018 Dear Editor/Newsroom, Fishermen of the area and mariners in general, are urgently warned that the volatile and highly flammable site of the erupting platform known as th…
How many other decommissioned, abandoned and/or orphaned wells exist and can the Minister locate these “Well Files” in the event of other inevitable ruptures?
Date: July 21st , 2018 Dear Editor/Newsroom, According to the IMA in an article published on 6th July 2017 “Fish gulping for air at the surface, would indicate a contaminant was present in …
Unless there is transparency there can be no sustainable development.
Date: July 30th, 2018 Dear Editor/Newsroom, Proceedings will be aired live online on the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (JCPC) website (https://www.jcpc.uk/live/court-03.html) Dat…
Dear Editor/Newsroom, Fishermen and Friends of the Sea (FFOS) issue condolences to the family of Neil Ramkhelawansingh, our deceased fisher who fell off a fishing boat close to the Godineau Bridg…
Date: October 14th 2018 Dear Editor/Newsroom, Today (Saturday 13th October 2018) FFOS responded to calls from the local residents of Caparo Road, Longdenville. For the past 2 months, the …
Fishermen and Friends of the Sea (FFOS) commend Minister of Planning and Development the Hon. Camille Robinson-Regis for her initiative to approve additional areas of forest for protection and sustain…
Dear Editor/ Newsroom, Since 19th July 2018, there has been an oil spill at Petrotrin’s Point-a-Pierre Oil Refinery nearby the foreshore area. It is believed Tank 114 has erupted spilling oil, w…
Dear Editor/ Newsroom FFOS concerns raised 20 years ago are now echoed When will we learn? In 2000, Fishermen and Friends of the Sea (FFOS) lobbied for the protection of Invaders Bay Man…
Date: August 28th, 2018 Dear Editor/Newsroom, Fishermen and Friends of the Sea (FFOS) have been defeated at the Privy Council. The Privy Council’s written judgment will be delivered on 8 Oc…
Date: September 2nd 2018 Dear Editor/Newsroom, The Institute of Marine Affairs published the 2016 “State of the Marine Environment Report” which revealed that Maracas Beach had a “very …
Dear Editor/Newsroom, Dr Keith Rowley recently signed a cooperative agreement for the construction of a dry-docking facility in La Brea, between our Government and the China Harbour Engineering C…
While our Nation is led down the greasy oil, gas and chemical industry road, are our institutions, or our legislature mindful of possible disasters, and are we ready?
We are not only victims but also perpetrators of global warming.
These important spawning grounds are rendered lifeless. Our already over-exploited benthic organisms and juvenile fish are on the brink of collapse while our fishing communities are left impoverished.…
On 17th December 2013, 7,554 barrels of Bunker C fuel oil spilled into the Gulf of Paria. It was speculated that the oil spill was a direct result of poorly maintained sea lines owned by the state o…
(December 2013) Petrotrin-Environmental-Data-on-December-2013-Oil-SpillDownload (December 2013) IMA-Environmental-Incident-Report-December-2013Download (June 2015) Report-of-Environmnetal-Assess…
Date: January 19th 2018 Dear Editor/Newsroom, Fishing is the only source of income for our fishers who have invested in their vessels, engines and nets and are now faced, without any forewarni…