“Petroleum is in my DNA, and it is also in the DNA of this nation, but there are so many people, even leaders in the field, who do not truly appreciate the history of our industry. For this reason, I thought that it was necessary to share where we came from and to give readers a better appreciation of the history of the energy industry here in Trinidad and Tobago.”
So says Professor Andrew Jupiter as he discusses his recently released book, Red, White and Black Gold, which chronicles his 50-year journey in the energy industry in Trinidad and Tobago.
To describe Professor Jupiter as accomplished would indeed be an understatement. He has been one of the most influential figures in the development of the local energy industry and his accomplishments in the field have earned him several honours, including the Chaconia Medal Gold in 2016 for Public Service. He was also among 50 public servants who were honoured at the Outstanding Public Service Awards Ceremony and Gala organised by the Government of Trinidad and Tobago for the country’s golden 50th year anniversary of Independence. In his capacity as an oil and gas expert, Professor Jupiter has accompanied, on various overseas missions, almost all Prime Ministers of this country since Independence.
Born in the oil town of Point Fortin and deeply shaped by his environment from youth, Jupiter was never far away from the country’s most precious natural resource. He writes, “I was surrounded by petroleum. I would pass the pumping jacks every day on my way to and from school. I was fascinated by the flares from the refinery and the process of extracting crude out of the ground. The smell of oil was in the air, fueling my curiosity.”
He explains that, like most families in Point Fortin at the time, his was also a family where working in oil had become something of a tradition. “Almost every person in my family, including my father, stepfather, and uncles, worked in the oil industry and I was proud to be entering the petroleum industry where I would find the answers to questions about petroleum that had enlivened my curiosity all my life.”
His new book, however, offers not only a treasure-trove of information on the rich history of the local oil industry, but is also a testament to his own personal struggles and triumphs. His was a journey of constant upward movement, which saw him move from humble beginnings in Point Fortin and Grande Riviere, to working as a trainee lab technician at Shell, to Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Energy, President of the National Energy Corporation, and finally to the halls of The UWI where he is now both a Distinguished Fellow and Professor of Practice. His main reason for relating these personal successes in his book is to offer hope for those now starting out in life, and show them just how much can be accomplished through hard work and dedication.
“I felt that it was necessary to share my experiences with the next generation and to pen my 50-year journey so that the story could be told of how a young guy from a country area was able to move up in all areas of life. I wanted young people, perhaps those now starting out their journey at secondary school, to have a sense that they can move beyond where they are. I wanted to give them hope that all is not lost in our country, and let them know that they have a bright future if they put in the hard work.”
A true patriot, Jupiter relates that one of the pivotal moments of his life was the joint decision made by his wife and himself to decline offers to remain at a prestigious American university, where they were both studying at the time, in order to return home to Trinidad.
“I was at Penn State on scholarship and my wife and I had been offered a chance to stay on, but we decided instead to return home because we wanted to give back to our homeland. The people of Trinidad and Tobago had given my wife and I a total of five scholarships, and we felt very strongly that we needed to show our appreciation for this by going back to serve the country which had given us both so much.”
It was not the first, and certainly not the last time that Jupiter's wife, Dr Clarise McMillan-Jupiter would play a fundamental role in his major life decisions. “For 44 years of my 50-year journey, my wife has been there by my side, and after God, she has been the most instrumental person in my life.”
While discussing his new book, Jupiter also reflects on the role that the UWI has played in both his personal life and the energy industry in general.
“UWI has played a tremendous role in my life and was really the starting point for my journey. It gave me my first undergraduate degree and also a postgraduate diploma in Petroleum Engineering. Looking out from my own personal journey to society at large, I can also say that UWI plays a pivotal role in the energy industry as it has successfully been able to link academia to industry. The research that is done here at UWI is truly relevant to the field, and it is something of which we should be very proud.”
Red, White and Black Gold was officially launched on September 22, 2022, a choice of date not without significance.
“I planned the book launch to be right after our country's 60th year of independence. I wanted the book to be my gift to the nation, and hope that readers would be able to better appreciate the vital role that the energy industry has played in our history and development.”
