Trinidad and Tobago National Security Minister Martin Joseph says he is awaiting a report from Chief of Defence Staff Brig Ancil Antoine on the cause of the Halliburton explosions which continue to rock Buenos Ayres, damaging homes and frightening villagers.
In an interview yesterday, Joseph said he was investigating how these explosions occurred.
He said: ?I don?t know what occurred. Halliburton was supposed to have dealt with the Defence Force, who would have provided guidelines. I have asked for a report on the guidelines which were provided to Halliburton.?
He added: ?Based on my preliminary discussions, Halliburton didn?t follow those guidelines or (take) steps which needed to be taken.?
Joseph said the detonation of the explosives caused a lot of destruction and stress to Erin residents.
Asked whether Halliburton could be penalised if it was found they disregarded the law, Joseph said he could not say anything until he received a report from the Defence Force.
Joseph said he first became aware of the explosion when Point Fortin MP Lawrence Achong called him on Saturday.
He said once he received the report, a decision would be taken on what measures, if any, could be brought against the company.
Energy Minister Eric Williams steered clear of the issue when contacted by phone yesterday.
He said although Halliburton conducted operations in the energy sector, permission to dispose of expired explosives did not fall under the energy ministry. He refused to give a personal opinion on the issue.
To date, Halliburton has not said what caused the explosives to detonate on October 20 and 23.
Residents again reported explosions on Tuesday night.
The company?s corporate communications officer Gerard Pichery said yesterday that a media release would be sent to the Guardian once it was cleared by his seniors.
He said the same thing on Tuesday, but no release has been sent as yet.
Asked for a response to Joseph?s comments, Pichery said the company was not in a position to respond as yet.
He said the company was not in a position to take specific questions on the issue but would issue a general media statement.
Villagers running scared
Three more explosions rang out in Buenos Ayres, Erin, before midnight on Tuesday, instilling fear into the hearts of many residents.
They occurred at around 10.30 pm, about 24 hours before officers of the Environmental Management Authority visited the area to do tests.
Resident Lisa Henry said, ?We got so scared when we heard it. We didn?t know what was going on at the site.
?It reminded us of smaller explosions which we heard after the big explosion last Saturday.?
Henry said residents were very traumatised by the explosions, the first of which took place last Wednesday, before a bigger one on Saturday, which damaged several homes.
?When the EMA arrived around 10 am, we were very relieved that the relevant authorities are finally taking heed of our plight,? Henry said.
EMA corporate communications officer Kirk Jean-Baptiste said the agency planned to conduct air testing using a specialised piece of equipment called a miran sapphire.
?The equipment records how many particles are in the environment and can determine whether there was any sort of pollution or air contamination,? he said.
Jean-Baptiste said there was no need to do water tests.
He said a survey of the residents? concerns had also been recorded by the technical co-ordinator of noise and incidents Anil Sookdeo and regulatory compliance officer Misty Ram.
A villager, Grace Scipio, said one of her daughters, Jenelle, 13, had been coughing up blood since the explosions occurred.
?I still feel as if I cannot hear well, and other residents have been complaining of chest pains,? she said.
Scipio said it was time for the company responsible for the explosions, Halliburton Trinidad Ltd, to meet residents to let them know what was going on.
?They have to compensate us for the injuries we sustained as well as damage to our property,? she said.
Henry said Halliburton had already conducted a survey of the damage, but should re-evaluate it, as residents were noticing cracks to their homes which they hadn?t noticed before.
Jean-Baptiste said he planned to meet with Halliburton staff to discuss why the EMA had not been informed in advance of the explosive disposal.
He said Halliburton should have informed the EMA, the police and the Fire Service.
A preliminary inquiry was being conducted to determine whether Halliburton contravened any environmental laws, he added.
Once the inquiry was complete, the EMA?s lawyers would take action on the company if there were any violations.
