T&T oil spill reaches Cocorite

(Trinidad Guardian) Even as two companies have been procured to commence clean-up operations after a massive oil spill in Chaguaramas on Saturday, the spill is said to be quickly spreading southeast in the Gulf-of-Paria, already reaching Cocorite. All seafarers and fisherfolk from the Cocorite, Charlieville, Felicity, Brick Field, Orange Valley, Carli Bay and Claxton Bay areas are being asked to exercise extreme caution and to be on the lookout for very large volumes of thick black oil.

According to a release issued by the Environmental Management Authority (EMA) on Monday, the Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries (MEEI) has procured two companies to commence the clean-up of the oily substance on the shoreline and waters in the Chaguaramas area.

The Chaguaramas Development Authority (CDA), which has responsibility for the peninsula has also commenced clean-up activities of its impacted assets, while, the Zoological Society of T&T, is also actively searching for adversely affected wildlife for rescue and rehabilitation.

Efforts to identify the source of the pollution and to ensure that conditions along the Chaguaramas Peninsula are normalised in the shortest possible time are ongoing.

Fishermen and Friends of the Sea, Corporate Secretary, Gary Aboud said the oil now stretches from Scotland Bay to Cocorite.