Thursday, March 28, 2024

Workers refuse to unload ship

Date:

Share post:

PORT OF SPAIN – The powerful Oilfields Workers’ Trade Union (OWTU) yesterday prevented its members from unloading a ship from West Africa, saying that the state-owned oil company PetroTrin had not formulated any protocols to deal with the deadly Ebola virus.

​But Minister of Health Dr Fuad Khan said that the union was overreacting and that the ship Overseas Yellowstone had been cleared to dock at port of Pointe-a-Pierre.

​“Unlike clearance processes that occurred when a vessel that had visited Ghana was docked in Chaguaramas recently, PetroTrin has called in ‘scab labour’ [unskilled workers] to help dock the vessel at Pointe-a-Pierre,”the union said.

“In light of the heightened global Ebola threat, regular port workers have refused to dock the vessel unless PetroTrin applies the proper procedures and protocols.”

Ghana is not among the five Ebola-hit West African countries from where passengers have been banned from entering Trinidad and Tobago, but OWTU president general Ancil Roget told a news conference it mattered not, given the fact that the ships normally would use people from other countries.

“Therefore, any threat or any exposure to the Ebola virus would put at risk not only the employee, but the home, family, community and therefore it is in the national interest . . . that we call on the company 
to put in place the necessary protocols in the interest of the workers at Pointe-a-Pierre,” the union said.

Roget said that given the fact that the ship had been at other ports, it was possible that someone could be carrying the virus for which there is no known cure.

​But Khan said the union was playing games because it was fully aware of the tests that had been conducted on the vessel. (CMC)

 

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Related articles

Water bills for March to include February charges

A few weeks ago, the Barbados Water Authority (BWA) informed customers in parts of Christ Church and St....

BWA making a connection at the Bridgetown Port

The Barbados Water Authority (BWA) informs businesses near The Shallow Draft at the Bridgetown Port that the BWA...

Beyoncé shares ‘Cowboy Carter’ tracklist

Yeehaw! Beyoncé’s new album is almost here. The singer revealed the tracklist for “Act 2: Cowboy Carter” on Instagram...

Four killed during stabbing spree in Illinois

Illinois, USA - Four people have been killed and at least five injured after a man armed with...