Overturned Barge Being Tugged to Guyana
A recent preliminary investigation into the mushrooming oil spill near Trinidad and Tobago has identified an overturned and abandoned barge as the source of the disaster. It has been discovered that the barge was actually being tugged towards nearby Guyana when the incident occurred. Officials in the eastern Caribbean nation are now tasked with determining the owner of the vessel, which has left beaches along Tobago’s southern coast coated in oil and forced the closure of two schools due to health concerns.
Search for Owner Intensifies as National Emergency Declared
The Prime Minister, Keith Rowley, declared a national emergency last week as the country grapples with the aftermath of the spill. The Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard, along with assistance from regional agencies and satellite images, has successfully traced the barge and the accompanying tug boat back to their journey from Panama towards Guyana. However, the owner of the tug boat remains unknown, and efforts to locate the vessel are ongoing. Foreign maritime security investigators have also joined the investigation to provide support and expertise.
Anger and Demands for Accountability
The oil spill has sparked outrage among the residents of Trinidad and Tobago. Farley Augustine, Chief Secretary of Tobago’s House of Assembly, called on the owner of the barge to step forward and take responsibility for the cleanup. Augustine emphasized the need for answers regarding the quantity and nature of the materials being transported, expressing concerns about the environmental impact and the health risks faced by the community. National Security Minister, Fitzgerald Hinds, assured the public that the investigation will continue until a swift and successful resolution is reached.