Venezuela demands compensation from T&T over 10-barrel oil spill

May 19, 2026 News

---

…says over 1,500 square KM could be affected

(Kaieteur News) – Venezuela’s Foreign Minister, Yvan Gil during a press conference on Monday demanded compensation from Trinidad and Tobago over an oil spill, warning that it could have an impact on 1,625 square kilometers across the South American country’s twelve strategic wetland systems, as well as on the livelihoods of more than five hundred fishermen.

Trinidadian Media, the Daily Express and TTT live online reported that the spill was detected on May 1st Heritage Petroleum Limited around 07:25 hrs. in the “Main Field”.  The Daily Express (Trinidadian media entity), in an article published on May 11 quotes the twin Island’s energy minister, Dr. Roodal Moonilal describing the spill as minor. According to the energy minister, only an estimated 10 barrels of oil were spilled.

His comments were made after the Daily Xpress reportedly contacted him for a response following a communiqué issued by the Venezuelan government expressing concern to the international community regarding the oil spill “originating from the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, which has caused serious environmental damage in the Gulf of Paria and coastal areas of the Venezuelan states of Sucre and Delta Amacuro”.

However, the Venezuelan Foreign Minister, Gil is claiming that volume of the spill, its origin and the type of Hydrocarbon spilled are still unknown. During his press-conference, Gil displayed satellite images taken on April 28 showing an oil spill originating from the Island of Trinidad.

Gil is also claiming that no information on the spill was shared with the Venezuelan Government.

“Trinidad and Tobago is obligated, first, to immediately report any oil spill or environmental incident to the Venezuelan government; that is the first priority. Second, we must have information on the type of product that was spilled and the measures taken to mitigate it,” Gil told the press.

He claimed that several communiques were sent to the Trinidadian government to assess the spill’s impact.

Gil added that Venezuela had been working for several weeks now on the oil spill with its Ministries of Ecosocialism (Environment) Fisheries and Aquaculture, the state-owned oil company Petróleos de Venezuela (PDVSA), the National Institute of Aquatic Spaces (INEA); and the Navy.

Based on Venezuela’s assessment so far, Gil also noted that four of the country’s national parks are at risk.

“There have been operational limitations for the fishing fleet. There has been a real economic and environmental impact,” the foreign minister stated while adding that more than 140 fish species are affected in the area, in addition to mangroves.

Prior to Gil’s press conference on Monday, Trinidadian press reported that the Island’s government has been continued Dialogue with Venezuelan officials and committed to working with its counterparts in addressing the issue.

Meanwhile in Guyana, citizens have been demanding that US oil giant Exxon Mobil provide financial assurance by way of an unlimited parent company guarantee to cover the cost of cleanup in case of an oil spill during its exploration activities offshore Guyana.

Citizens, Frederick Collins and Godfrey Whyte had taken the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to court to enforce a critical clause in the Liza Phase One renewed environmental permit issued to Exxon subsidiary, ExxonMobil Guyana Limited (EMGL). They were successful at the high court. Justice Sandil Kissoon had issued on May 3, 2023, getting the court to declare that EMGL was not in compliance with the insurance provisions of its Liza Phase One Permit, which requires an unlimited parent guarantee for oil spills in the Stabroek Block.

However, the Court of Appeal, comprising Justices Dawn Gregory, Nareshwar Harnanan and Priya Sewnarine- Beharry, held that Justice Kissoon fell into error when he held that Exxon’s liability under the Environmental Permit was unlimited in nature.

The justices further ruled that neither the Environmental Permit nor the Environmental Protection Agency Act made any provision or referred to an unlimited guarantee and that Justice Kissoon erred in seeking to substitute his own discretion and decision for that of the EPA.

A stay of Justice Kissoon’s ruling was granted by the Court of Appeal after EPA and Exxon approached the court. Earlier this year, the court heard arguments from the applicants and the respondents in the case.

Collins and Whyte were represented by a team of lawyers including Trinidadian born Senior Counsel, Seenath Jairam and attorneys Melinda Janki and Abiola Wong-Inniss as well as British-born King’s Counsel, Tim Prudhoe who joined the appeal. The respondents lawyer had contended that EMGL as the permit holder must be able to meet its liabilities. In the likelihood of an oil spill, the responsibilities of Exxon are uncapped. Notwithstanding the Act requires financial assurance in the Exxon permit, the attorneys believe that the core of the issue is for the corporation to provide unlimited guarantee for all costs related to cleanup, restoration, and compensation for damages caused by any discharge of contaminants, including investigations into pollution incidents.

Former Executive Director of the EPA Dr. Vincent Adams and Chartered Accountant, and attorney, Christopher Ram have since spoken out against the decision. Adams in his commentary said that he believes the Court Appeal may not have understood the issue at hand and hence they gave a ruling that speaks more providing a limited insurance rather than a document to covers with unlimited coverage Guyana in case of a catastrophic oil spill.

Ram shared a similar view.  He said, “I totally disagree with the Court of Appeal’s decision.”

“The court would be aware that there can be no real price placed upon a major oil spill…in Guyana’s case, we are dealing with multiple wells operating in close proximity offshore. With every additional well, the cumulative risk necessarily increases, however remote the risk attached to any individual operation may appear,” the lawyer reasoned.

---

• oil spill, Satellite Images, Venezuela-TT, Yvan Gil

---