Tobago House of Assembly Chief Secretary Kelvin Charles yesterday gave the assurance that there will be “no retrenchment” of workers at the Studley Park Quarry.
But he said a special purpose company has been set up with a view to making what he described as a “significant asset” more profitable.
Charles was responding to Minority leader Watson Duke, who lamented in his response to the THA budget debate, that the THA had a plan to “privatise” the quarry, which he said had the potential to earn “$150 million a year” for Tobago.
Workers from the quarry were in the Chamber during the debate. Duke acknowledged their presence, saying “my colleagues from Studley Park are concerned about their livelihood, they are concerned about a company called Studley Park Enterprises Limited.”
He said he could not understand why a quarry that “is considered a goldmine” is being given to someone else.
Duke started to read from a pink bristol board placard used during a protest at the quarry, but he was cautioned by presiding officer Denise Tsoiafatt-Angus, who informed him posters were not allowed.
Duke argued that it was “a document I am reading from,” adding, “On a point of order I rise while I am speaking. I want it to be shown in the standing orders where it says the size of document I should read from?”
Tsoiafatt-Angus responded: “Mr Duke I have made a ruling.”
While he complied with the ruling, Duke pressed for clarity on the standing order he had violated. But the presiding officer had had enough and warned: “If you do not proceed with completing your presentation we can do it for you. Do not challenge me in this house.”
Thanking her for her “admonition,” Duke said members of the assembly must remember they represent the people, as he went on to ask how the THA plans to treat with the fallout from closing Studley Park.
He added: “How could a quarry that stands to make TT$150 million per year not be placed as an important avenue for revenue in the estimates of revenue for the year 2018.”
If the plan was to privatise the company, he wondered why the THA was “spending TT$26 million on a company privatised already. Who will be running the company? What is the criteria for persons being hired in the quarry? What is the future of those employed?”
Duke said he had visited the quarry last Friday and “I saw a number of jobs being advertised.” But he said those jobs were already being done by persons represented by the National Union of Government and Federated Workers (NUGFW) (daily paid) and the PSA (monthly paid).
He asked: “Is there a structure for the quarry, did you all consult the NUGFW and the PSA? What is the plan for these persons?”
But Charles later accused Duke of trying to “destabilise the situation.”
He said Duke seemed not to know the history of the quarry. He said although “more than TT$100 million would have been borrowed from Republic Bank Ltd and new equipment was purchased, a new plant purchased and commissioned to bring the quarry up to a level, the quarry continues to operate in a sub-optimal manner.”
