(Trinidad Guardian) United States Ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago Beatrice Wilkinson Welters has written to the Government, raising concerns about the Government’s proposal to award two projects worth US$5.3 billion to a consortium led by the Saudi Arabia’s state company SABIC. The ambassador’s letter followed major objections raised by US interests that they were unfairly bypassed in favour of the Saudis in what is an increasingly controversial project. Well placed sources at the Ministry of Energy said last Thursday that Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar ordered that the Cabinet not award the project until the Government was able to respond to the US Ambassador and this led to the decision being deferred to yesterday.
An e-mailed response to queries from the?In T&T Guardian, the US Embassy confirmed raising the issue of the methanol to petrochemical projects with the Government. It wrote: “We have contacted the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago regarding proposed petrochemical projects. The United States enjoys a robust commercial relationship with Trinidad and Tobago “Many US-based companies are interested in doing business in Trinidad and Tobago, and US firms have played key roles in helping develop the energy sector here, bringing innovative technology and financing to new industries. “Part of the embassy’s function is to communicate with the Government regarding both economic trends and specific commercial opportunities in both countries, and we feel that we maintain a solid and honest relationship with many Ministers in that regard.”
The project has been increasingly mired in controversy with major disagreements between former energy minister Carolyn Seepersad Bachan and her replacement Kevin Ramnarine over the price the Saudis were proposing to pay for natural gas. It has been further revealed that the plants will not be built in La Brea but they have been moved to Point Lisas. Now come allegations of a flawed process.
