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 owned company Petrotrin. These sea lines, which had not been inspected for over 17 years ruptured and directly affected the coastal areas from […]
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.
We are not only victims but also perpetrators of global warming.
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?
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 Company Limited (CHEC), a Chinese company with a decade long record of multiple corruption scandals and fraudulent governmental transactions. In 2009, Chinese Firm CHEC’s parent company, China Communications Construction Group (CCCC), was […]
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 poor” bathing quality rating due to sewage contamination. What is being done to address the seepage of pit latrines? The 1067 residents defecate on average 1067 loads per day, and they don’t […]
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 October, 2018. FFOS appeared on 30th July 2018 before the Privy Council against the Environmental Management Authority (EMA) and the Ministry of Works and Transport/NIDCO to appeal the decision of […]
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 Mangrove Forest, which were being secretly privatized and bulldozed for built facilities. Had a proper environmental impact assessment (EIA) been conducted, the function of the mangrove forest and […]
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, which remains (up to today) contaminating Petrotrin’s Tank Farm. According to the Tank Integrity Assessment for Petrotrin, 2003 Report, Tank 114 which was constructed in 1960, has a capacity […]
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 sustainable use. However the Minister fails to realize the contradiction of her own statements with the decisions of her own cabinet members. Our nation has 35 designated forest/nature reserves, all of […]