(Trinidad Express) Alpheaus Paul, owner of Cafe Al Fresco in Lambeau, Tobago, has been forced to close his business as a result of the February 7 fuel spill.
Suffering approximately $20,000 in losses thus far, his business has had to close and workers sent home in light of the close proximity of his establishment to the impact of the disaster.
Paul told the Express yesterday he was initially told by the relevant authorities that clean-up operations opposite his business place would have concluded by last Wednesday, but he has had to close. “So it is really horrible and we have about five workers that are on a breadline that we have sent home, and there is no information from the authorities of what has taken place and how long this process will take as well,” Paul said.
And with thousands in losses thus far, he is hopeful relief would come soon.
“When I go up for information normally they refer you to Mr Allan Stewart (Tobago Emergency Management Agency head) for his input but I think they need a team on the ground to know to visit businesses to find out how they have been affected, so at least we will know the way forward and how long this will take and if there is any compensation or anything to the businesses,” Paul said.
He said he has had to clean up his own compound. “At the beginning of the oil spill, we had to spend extra in the cleaning of the restaurant because we are so close to the beaches and when the tide is high we get some of the residue of the oil at the restaurant as well,” Paul said.
In another situation arising as a result of the spill, Lambeau fishermen have been relocated to the Shaw Park food hub but there are complaints that sales are slow compared to their previous beach-front location at Lambeau. On Sunday they said they were locked out of the Shaw Park food hub facility.
Meanwhile, the Lambeau Anglican Primary School and the Scarborough Secondary Schools remain closed until further notice in light of air quality concerns following the spill. A letter dated February 25 from the Division of Education to the schools’ principals stated that both schools will remain closed until further notice, adding: “We want to reassure you that the air quality checks conducted by the Tobago Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) and other authorised agencies indicate that the air quality remains within normal levels. However, due to the ongoing clean-up efforts along the coast, there may still be an offensive odour present in the surrounding areas. Therefore, we believe it is in the best interest of our students and staff to extend the closure until the situation is at a satisfactory level. We will continue to closely monitor the situation and provide updates regarding any developments or changes… we advise principals to continue using suitable platforms to engage students, thereby mitigating the risk of learning loss.”
Asked to comment on the issue, Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers’ Association (TTUTA) Tobago officer Bradon Roberts said a more sustainable way forward should be realised in light of the continued closure.
