Aqualectra wins case against PWFC

August 10, 2010 5:27 AM

On Sunday afternoon, Aqualectra instituted and won interlocutory proceedings against Isla and labor union PWFC to enforce access to its diesel power station on the grounds of the Isla refinery.

The energy company had to stop the diesel power station, generating 33 megawatt (MW) because campaigning members of PWFC did not want to admit Aqualectra staff to the grounds of the refinery. The judge ruled in favor of Aqualectra and ordered PWFC not to impede the access of the Aqualectra staff on pain of forfeiture of a penalty of 20 thousand guilders.

On account of the PWFC campaign, Aqualectra had a lack of capacity. In the night from Saturday to Sunday a switching program had been in force, causing districts alternately to have no power for four hours. The interlocutory proceedings were directed against Isla, because Isla is contractually obligated to guarantee Aqualectra free access to its diesel power station, and against the campaigning labor union. PWFC denied each time that the Aqualectra staff was halted at the main entrance of the refinery. But according to Aqualectra director Anthon Casperson this was the case and it also corresponded with the information Lieutenant-Governor Dindial had.

In the night from Saturday to Sunday, when one proceeded to stop the diesel power station, the shift on duty had already worked double hours because the replacement was not admitted, Casperson stated. The staff had worked 16 consecutive hours and it was not responsible to keep the power station running under those circumstances, according to the Aqualectra director. PWFC responded matter-of-factly to the judgment and stated that it was the responsibility of Aqualectra itself to put the staff to work under the present unsafe circumstances. The refinery is not safe when the staff is campaigning and not present, according to vice-president Alex Molina.

Stopping the diesel power station led to various power outages.

Aqualectra was represented in the proceedings by Mayesi Hammoud, senior associate at law firm VanEps Kunneman VanDoorne.

(Source: National newspaper Antilliaans Dagblad)

9 August, 2010