TOBAGO - The oil spill near the Caribbean island of Tobago in February has cost Trinidad and Tobago at least forty million guilders. Although these costs are being reimbursed through the International Oil Pollution Compensation Fund (IOPCF), Energy Minister Stuart Young is frustrated that those responsible have still not been identified.
On February 7 of this year, the Gulfstream sank while being towed by the tugboat Solo Creed off the coast of the tourist island of Tobago. Since the incident, there has been no trace of the crews of either vessel.
Large quantities of oil leaked from the sunken Gulfstream, causing severe damage to Tobago's beaches. Other islands in the Caribbean Sea, including Bonaire and even Aruba, also faced pollution in the days and weeks following the disaster. The oil also reached the Venezuelan coast.
Thanks to timely warnings, the authorities of these countries were able to take measures to mitigate the damage. However, Trinidad and Tobago has had to pay a hefty price, according to Minister Young. "The exact extent of the damage has yet to be determined, but it is clear that some mangrove forests have been irreparably damaged. The tourism and fishing sectors have also been heavily affected."
The country is currently receiving 20 million euros from the IOPCF, partly because the ownership of the ships responsible for the oil spill remains a mystery. Young stated that his country has requested assistance from Aruba, Curaçao, and Panama to help identify the perpetrators.