RADHICA DE SILVA
Senior Multimedia Reporter
radhica.sookraj@guardian.co.tt
The Oilfield Workers Trade Union (OWTU) led by President General Ancel Roget picketed the home of a National Petroleum Marketing Company (NP) board member over alleged nepotism and corruption at the state-owned company.
The protest was held nearly nine months after a whistleblower was allegedly dismissed for raising concerns about a senior manager.
Roget defended the union’s decision to go to the board member’s residence, stating: “We are exercising our right as workers and as a trade union representing the NP workers, the right to picketing.
“We could have been anywhere else this Saturday afternoon, but we chose to be here because of the arrogant and disrespectful manner in which (name called) has treated the workers of National Petroleum Marketing Company.”
Roget claimed a whistleblower who raised allegations against a high-ranking NP official for interfering with her performance score was dismissed last October. He said despite the serious allegations, the official was reinstated and even had her contract renewed for two years.
“(Name called), who was accused of interfering with her own performance appraisal, was brought back,” Roget said. “We feel that level of disrespect, bringing back that person without her name being cleared, must be brought to the public’s attention. All is not right at NP,” he said.
Roget emphasised that the union considered the investigation into the allegations to be inconclusive, although there were claims that it had been resolved.
“The union was not part of that investigation. We would have liked to see her performance prior properly examined. Everywhere this person goes, there is a trail of confusion that follows her. How can she have a score higher than other people in the company?” he asked.
The OWTU leader also questioned the motives behind the reinstatement and suggested possible nepotism due to shared surnames between the board official and the manager.
“I am not saying that they are relatives because they carry the same name. Let the media investigate that. But something is radically wrong, amiss, in the minds of the workers, and workers are incensed that when the issue was raised by a whistleblower, that whistleblower is out of NP now,” he said.
“They leave these positions vacant and manipulate and bring in their own people to exercise and put in place their agenda.”
Roget also claimed that there were other decisions taken by the board that reeked of corruption.
“The board of NP seems to be carrying out questionable instructions and actions that are inimical to the performance of NP. This picketing is the first of a number of actions we are going to take,” he warned.
Roget said more protests will follow in the coming months as the union ramps up its efforts against nepotism and mismanagement in state companies.
“We want proper ethics and good accountability. Getting the chairman and board out of NP is not our objective. We want proper and honourable management of state enterprises, including NP.”
Roget called for the NP board and management to resign.