RADHICA DE SILVA
radhica.sookraj@guardian.co.tt
Over 40 residents have been relocated and attempts are underway to contain an oil spill caused by saboteurs who hacked off a six-inch pipeline in Fyzabad, before leaving a message for company officials.
The message read: "Ask Kern where my money for my pipeline."
The sabotage came a week after a gauge hut was set on fire at Market Street, Fyzabad.
Guardian Media has been informed that thick crude oil has now spread to ten acres of land killing fields of crops and spilling into a farmer's prized tilapia pond.
Company officials from Touchstone Exploration and Primera Oil and Gas Limited are on site. The line has been isolated and mop-up operations are now in progress.
Resident Thomas Cochrane said this was not the first time that oil has been spilt on his property.
"Dasheen eddoes, please, corn coconut and other crops. The oil has damaged the roots of the plants so it will affect it eventually," he added.
Another farmer Shevon Mahabir showed where the oil had spilt onto the drains.
"They sabotage the line. we had to let go of the chickens. The pens are filled with oil. Right now we have no place to tie the goats. My tilapia pond is also covered with oil. All the fishes die," he added.
Mahabir said that based on the amount of oil in the river, it appears as if the company officials had not fixed the problem.
Guardian Media will update this story as more information comes to hand.
