WILLEMSTAD.- Island Refinery workers yesterday in the PWFC building had many questions for Minister-President Eugenne Rhuggenaath. Many workers asked the Minister-President to explain to them what the government will do to guarantee their job. Rhuggenaath was present together with Ministers Kenneth Gijsbertha (Finance) and Suzy Camelia-Römer (Health, Environment and Nature) at PWFC to give the workers explanations regarding the current situation after the Management of “Preferred Partners” informed this week, that they did not want to continue negotiations to become Manager and Operator of our Refinery.
Workers expressed their worries to Rhuggenaath, since this decision could have consequences with respect to their jobs and their salaries. They do not know if they will be able to fulfill all their commitments concerning their families and their homes. In addition to this concern, some of them also expressed concern about the future of the refinery. They asked the Minister to guarantee that they would not work with the Greentown plan, that is, the project to replace the Refinery and build tourist houses and hotels on that land.
Rhuggenaath explained to the workers that he understands their concerns. He emphasized that his Government will do everything possible to work for the future of Refinery, and this means, look for a strategic partner.
Some of the workers asked Rhuggenaath to send Clift Christiaan home, who is the leader of the negotiation team and to appoint Errol Cova to the Refinery negotiations team. Rhuggenaath indicated that he saw no reason to send Clift Christiaan home. According to Rhuggenaath, he knows Christiaan as a person who has always worked very hard, among others for Dok and now for Refinery.
