Despite being accused of chasing away investors with protests after bpTT pulled out of a multi-million gas platform project in their district, contract workers employed in the Caribbean Gas Chemicals Limited’s (CGCL) petrochemical complex yesterday shut down the construction site in La Brea, citing wage concerns and poor working conditions.
After the workers walked off the job at 11 am, some La Brea residents agreed with their MP, former Energy Minister Nicole Olivierre, that ongoing protest action in the district could have dissuaded bpTT from making a further investment in the community.
Roger Jones, who is employed on the CGCL construction site, said he did not agree with his co-workers after they took a decision to abandon their jobs.
“Some of us want to work but the majority saying they want better pay. They want to be paid like oil workers but they are not oil workers. This kind of nonsense is what makes us lose out on opportunities,” Jones said.
He added, “People’s attitude towards work is bad. They are contributing to half of the problems we are facing in this area.”
However, several other villagers said bpTT had no intention of building the platform in Trinidad, saying if they wanted to they could have built it another part of the country.
Businessman Wade James, who operates a mini-mart near the construction zone, said there were enough skilled people in T&T to build the platform.
“If they think that La Brea residents like to protest and the workers here have a bad work attitude, then why not take it to another part of the country? No, I believe that bpTT had other reasons for not building it in Trinidad. They probably got a better deal elsewhere. The Mexicans are very eager to work,” James said.
Along the La Brea stretch, David Knight, who sells mangoes, said La Brea people were being blamed wrongfully.
“Most of the people here want to work, only a few have a bad work attitude. La Brea has contributed to the rest of the country and over the years we have been deprived. Nothing is put back in the community to build family life. I feel disappointed that bpTT is not investing here,” Knight said.
Cheryl Thomas, of Vessigny, agreed that La Brea residents were willing to work.
“Not everybody’s attitude is the same. Lots of people cannot find work and are eager for an opportunity,” Thomas said.
Meanwhile, when the T&T Guardian visited the CGCL construction site yesterday, most of the workers had already left the compound. A few workers were seen under some tents but all heavy machinery was at a standstill.
Contacted yesterday, CGCL human resource manager Josie-ann Richards said they were advised by its engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contractor, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI), that a work stoppage occurred on the construction site of the plant.
“MHI advised that discussions were held with the major contractors, as well as with workers’ representatives to address a number of issues, chief among them rates of pay for certain job classifications. CGCL was advised that some issues were to be immediately addressed, even as discussions are on-going on other matters,” Richards said.
She added that CGCL has since been advised that work will resume today.
Earlier this week, bpTT said it would no longer construct the Angelin platform in Trinidad, which would have provided employment to 150-175 people.
Over 2015 to 2017, Trinidad Offshore Contractors Limited (TOFCO) was in charge of building the Juniper platform, but this project was severely affected by frequent protests and in mid-2015, part of the platform was shipped to Texas for completion. The topside was completed in La Brea in January 2017.
