Tobago oil spill raises concerns for Grenada, PM Rowley tours the site

Prime Minister Keith Rowley led a ministerial team to survey the site of an oil spill that has affected the waters near Tobago significantly in the past few days. The issue of the oil spill has raised the concerns in the neighbouring country Grenada due to its possible severe of the affect on its water.

As the authorities grapple with the situation to mitigate the impact of the spill on the coastline and the environment, Grenada has raised concerns regarding the impact this disaster could have on it.

Following the tour, PM Rowley hosted a news conference where he furnished much needed details about the situation as it stands. The spill is a major problem for the nation as it has managed to affect a nine-mile-long portion of Tobago’s southwestern coast, impacting the beautiful beaches of the island, as well as the fauna that calls its waters home.

Considering the situation, clean up efforts have been initiated and over 1000 volunteers are a part of the initiative. Currently, the authorities are making attempts to isolate the leak with in the abandoned vessel to cease the hemorrhage of oil into the surrounding waters.

The Tobago House of Assembly’s (THA) Chief Secretary, Farley Augustine has stated that there is a possibility that the government of Trinidad and Tobago could designate the incident at Disaster Level 3, the highest on the scale.

He clarified that while the decision has not been made yet, it is evident from the manner in which it is progressing that Level 3 might eventually be the most appropriate designation for this incident.

As of now though, the Office of Disaster Preparedness Management (ODPM), has deemed the spill to be a Level 2 disaster and has stated that Trinidad and Tobago has the capacity to deal with the situation.

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It is also known that no emergency calls were made when the ship, which has been identified as the Gulfstream, capsized off the coast of the Cove Eco-Industrial Estate on Wednesday.

In an interesting and slightly alarming turn of events, concerns were raised by Grenada, as the nation believed it was being put at risk by the oil spill.

An attempt has been made to assuage these doubts, as Grenadians have been assured that the spill poses no threat to them. The Office of Disaster Preparedness and Management (ODPM) in Trinidad and Tobago, is working in conjunction with the National Disaster Management Agency (NaDMA), sending regular reports on the situation regarding the capsized vessel.

The OPDM has also conducted a thorough survey of the area via aircraft flyovers and satellite imagery, which has given the organisation a better understanding of the on-ground situation. According to the latest reports received, the spill has been contained in the southern region of Tobago.

The NaDMA has also clarified repeatedly that Grenada is not currently at risk but it is assessing the situation constantly and providing timely updates.

The primary aim for the authorities in Trinidad and Tobago, as of now, is to ensure that the spill and its effects are contained in the southern region of the nation, thus insulating neighboring nations and other parts of Trinidad and Tobago.

The environmental impact, though drastic already, must be contained to make sure that the pristine beaches of Trinidad and Tobago and the surrounding waters, can be recovered.

It is also known that the leaking vessel got stuck on a coral reef near the coast of Tobago, as it began leaking oil profusely. The exact impact of this on the reef itself is unclear for now but experts believe that this would have a decidedly negative effect on the health of the many organisms which use the reef for shelter as well.

Thus, the environmental ramifications of the spill have to be considered and will play an important role in the process of recovering from this disaster. As yet, it is unclear how long it will take the nation to recover from this tragedy and the true extent of the damage is not clear.