Senior Reporter
kevon.felmine@guardian.co.tt
Residents of Tarouba Heights say they remain in the dark days after Thursday’s oil spill, alleging limited direct communication from Heritage Petroleum even as a lingering hydrocarbon odour, clean-up activity and health concerns continue to affect parts of the community.
When the Sunday Guardian visited the community near recently replaced pipelines along the Solomon Hochoy Highway, some residents who had evacuated had not yet returned, while others remained inside with doors and windows sealed to keep out the smell of oil. Heritage personnel were on site conducting air quality checks, which they said were reading within acceptable levels, while sections of the area remained cordoned off as clean-up operations continued.
On Friday, Heritage Petroleum said it responded to reports of oil in the vicinity of Rangie Nanan Drive. It said clean-up operations were underway as a priority while investigations continued, with contaminated soil being removed from the area. The company also said representatives were engaging residents.
However, several residents along Joseph Coombs Drive and Rangie Nanan Drive said they had not yet been directly briefed by any Heritage representative. Resident Cyril Balbosa, said he only became aware of the spill through social media and criticised the lack of early communication with the community.
“I only saw it on social media. I did not realise there was an oil spill before. Nobody informed us,” he said, adding that emergency crews and Heritage personnel were seen in the area, but no clear explanation was given to residents.
He said by the time he came outside, the response teams were preparing to leave, and residents were still not formally briefed.
Balbosa, who reported some respiratory discomfort over recent days, said he could not determine whether his symptoms were linked to the spill or to Saharan dust conditions.
Another resident, a mother of three who requested anonymity, said the odour triggered immediate headaches when she stepped outside and forced her to remain indoors for most of the past few days while observing increased activity from response vehicles. She said there was little to no direct communication with residents along her street during the initial response.
“I did not really see them communicate with any of the residents on this street,” she claimed.
She described the response as inadequate, noting that while she saw an ambulance in the area, no official visited her home to check on her family’s well-being.
Claxton Bay MP Hasen Narinesingh, who visited the spill site, indicated that residents’ concerns would be taken up with the company and that follow-up engagement would be carried out.
“I will address that with Heritage and tally the concerns of the residents as well. I will be going personally to each of the residents to make sure their fears are alleviated,” Narinesingh said.
He added that, based on current assessments, the situation was being treated as stable while investigations continue.
