Robinson wants oversight bodies to probe Petrojam

OPPOSITION SPOKESMAN on Science and Technology Julian Robinson has called on the new Integrity Commission and the auditor general to urgently examine the operations of the state-owned oil refinery, Petrojam, noting that the viability of the entity is being threatened.

In his contribution to the Sectoral Debate in Parliament on Tuesday, Robinson said that the parliamentary Opposition was deeply concerned about issues that were evolving at the company.

“There is widespread nepotism, where persons who lack the appropriate experience and expertise are being put into critical positions within that entity. There is victimisation of staff, of persons who are standing up for principle and are either being fired or sidelined,” Robinson charged.

He further claimed, “There are major project overruns that are taking place at Petrojam. What is happening at this state-owned agency is what I would call the wild, wild west. It requires the intervention of the auditor general to go in with immediate effect to examine what is taking place at this entity.”

He pointed to a specific issue that he said should be investigated: “Donations were made, last year of $30 million to a number of entities ... where there is no proof that the donations have been made, for example, to a school to undertake a particular project.”