The country is being warned by Tobago House of Assembly Chief Secretary Farley Augustine that the island is at risk of an environmental disaster, owing to the temporary storage of waste from the oil spill that occurred on February 7.
Delivering what was his final budget as Secretary of Finance, Trade and Economy yesterday, Augustine explained that the waste is being stored in open cells at Studley Park.
He said 15 kilometres of coastline from Scarborough to Crown Point had been successfully cleaned thus far, with the removal of 60,000 barrels of oily liquid waste and 24,000 cubic yards of oily solid waste from the overturned Gulfstream.
To date, he said, the THA has disbursed $70 million in payments to contractors and service providers involved in the operations. As of April 30, they were still owed $51.5 million and the figure is climbing as clean-up continues.
It is projected that a further $16.5 million will be required to complete payments for all shoreline clean-up activities, which are expected to be completed by the end of July.
“The total cost of shoreline clean-up therefore will be summed to approximately $85 million,” he said.
He said the cost of shoreline clean-up does not include the final disposal of waste stored at Studley Park, which is estimated to be $60 million.
“Currently, deputy presiding officer, waste is being stored in open cells at Studley Park and should we receive extensive rainfall, can lead to an ecological disaster. Therefore, that 60 million dollars required for final disposal of waste stored at Studley Park is crucial,” he said.
Augustine said it is against this backdrop that the THA requested $153 million prior to the mid-year budget review, as he lamented the allocation of $50 million by Finance Minister Colm Imbert. The $153 million was also insufficient, as he said it does not include relief efforts to fisherfolk.
“The result is that the THA has been faced with significant challenges in meeting its financial obligations and improperly disposing of the waste temporarily being stored in Studley Park landfill. This is clearly a contradiction to the public assurances given by the Prime Minister at the initial stages,” he added.
The Chief Secretary said analyses are required on the environmental damage, socio-economic impact of the spill, re-evaluation of the disposal of waste at Studley Park and the environmental research and restoration aspects.
Augustine said this will further exacerbate costs to be incurred by the THA which have yet to be quantified.
Four months ago, the Gulfstream overturned off Cove, Tobago, contaminating several beaches and affecting fishermen’s livelihoods.
The owner of the barge and the tugboat that was pulling it have not taken accountability for the disaster and Government is still trying to verify the owner of the vessel.