KWAME WEEKES - Trinidad Newsday
THOUGH Petrotrin recorded $533 million in losses for 2016 and averted an Oilfield Workers Trade Union (OWTU) strike that could have crippled the company as well as the country’s economy at the beginning of this year, the company has pledged to continue financially supporting pan by sponsoring and assisting bands across the country.
“We are a national company supporting the national instrument,” said Petrotrin President, Fitzroy Harewood on Tuesday evening to Newsday in Petrotrin Hatters’ panyard at Lady Hailes Avenue, San Fernando.
“It is no secret that Petrotrin is going through a challenging period, but we count it a privilege and an honour to be part of this experience of giving communities a cultural outlet for expression.” Harewood said he could not put an exact figure to Petrotrin’s financial contribution to Carnival 2017, but said it was “more or less” the same as last year. “We have been contributing to a few sponsored bands, and we have been assisting a number of bands. We’ve been trying to keep the assistance within some of four fence-line communities, like Siparia, Point Fortin, San Fernando, and even the ones other than the fence line.” Following January’s averted strike, Petrotrin was given a renewed mandate by Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley to increase productivity while also cutting costs.
Replies
Thank you Mr. Harewood for your belief and confidence in the steelpan,