Energy Ministry Moves To Fill Vacant Contract And Establishment Positions
During Day 3 of the Standing Finance Committee, Minister of Energy and Energy Industries Dr Roodal Moonilal outlined how $17 million was spent on contracting services during the last fiscal period and provided a breakdown of the Ministry’s $71.6 million allocation for the current fiscal year.
« That had to do with reimbursement to Heritage Petroleum Company, operational responses on the Tobago oil spill and so on, and reabandonment works on a particular area in South Trinidad, but the total was 17 million for 25/26. It is now projected to be 71.6 million for 26/27. It has to do with payments, a significant payment to, on behalf of Petrotrin, which is part of the legacy items we deal with on an ongoing basis, and it has to do with a clean-up as well. »
There are also plans to address short-term vacancies within the Ministry. Minister Moonilal explained that, over the years, the Ministry has engaged persons under service provider arrangements.
« This was raised on many occasions, as you may be aware, by the Auditor General as a case of misappropriation of funds. Under your leadership, we have corrected this misstep and have transformed these persons to short-term arrangements; hence, the increase in the short-term vote. Correspondingly, the other contracted services vote will not be used to pay persons functioning as regular staff. The Ministry is working on ensuring that contract positions are filled, and we are working with the Service Commission to fill establishment positions, so this will greatly reduce the number of persons that are required in short-term engagements. »
