By NATARIO McKENZIE
Tribune Business Reporter
nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net
An environmental activist yesterday warned that the Government was taking The Bahamas back to "the dark ages" by entertaining petroleum industry investments.
Save the Bays chairman Joseph Darville yesterday urged the Minnis administration to "come clean" and provide "specifics" on its policy towards offshore oil drilling after the Bahamas Petroleum Company (BPC) took several steps towards "spudding" its first well.
BPC, which has spent more than a decade on its exploration project, recently confirmed it has "lodged an application for Environmental Authorisation" with the Ministry of the Environment and Housing over plans to drill a first well in waters south-west of Andros. And it last week announced the signing of a three-month exclusivity deal with an undisclosed "farm-in" partner for the drilling joint venture.
BPC's project continues to attract criticism from environmentalists despite the potential economic benefits from discovering recoverable, commercial quantities of oil in Bahamian waters.
"It is disturbing that we can get information on these developments from outside the country, and we are not getting it directly from our leaders and in a systematic manner which respects the dignity and pride of our people," said Mr Darville.
"This is taking us back into the dark ages; it's really mind-boggling. I am disgusted and terrified by the way this country is going when there are so many ways to create wealth and employment, and we want to subject it to oil drilling, refineries and things that will not be of any use in 20 years because of the damage to the environment.
"Every single Bahamian should know what is going to affect his welfare and the welfare of the country. The Government needs to come clean on this issue. We want to know specifics."
Back in 2013, the Christie administration indicated it would allow exploratory wells to be sunk ahead of a referendum, after initially indicating that no form of drilling would take place ahead prior to approval by the Bahamian people.
Then-minister of the environment, Kenred Dorsett, said the Government had determined that "we need to find out first, through exploration drilling, whether we do indeed have oil in commercially viable quantities".
Mr Darville added yesterday: "We want to know what will happen in the case of any mishaps. We need to know the penalties such companies will face if there is a major oil spill in our ocean. We have very flimsy regulations right now, and we do not have an Environmental Protection Act which levies the proper penalties."
Environmental advocate and businesswoman, Diane Phillips, added: "With regards to oil drilling, we are 20 years behind and, as the world understands the need to move toward renewables, I say leave it right where it is. The risk is too great. One oil spill could have incalculable consequences."
Sam Duncombe, reEarth's president, recently called on the Minnis administration to "step into the light" and instead embrace renewable energy. She urged the Government to deny BPC's Environmental Authorisation application, adding: "The last thing this country needs is oil drilling.
Comments
Porcupine 5 years, 11 months ago
Mr. Darville's position should be considered by all Bahamians. It is the only "official" position of any organization that makes any sense. The shills for oil drilling and refining are perfect prostitutes. Mr. Darville, we must not give an inch on this matter. Stay the course.
proudloudandfnm 5 years, 11 months ago
Bring it on. Every day of every week huge oil tankers transit our waters en route to their destinations. We have two oil terminals pumping oil weekly. The risk is already here. Bring it. Resume ready to go...
SP 5 years, 11 months ago
This guy is a total "Arschloch". How many years has the U.S. been drilling and pumping oil out of 175 oil rigs in the Gulf of Mexico, and Europe out of the North Sea 173 active rigs drilling and with how many environmental disasters?
What we must insist on is whoever is responsible for an oil spill disaster is also held accountable for the cleanup regardless of cost!
Otherwise, let's get on with it already.
sheeprunner12 5 years, 11 months ago
There are risks in every industry ......... look at the abandoned hotel carcasses in Freeport ........ Mr. Darville is disingenuous in speaking to the natural and not the built environment.
Porcupine 5 years, 11 months ago
Ever read anything other than the Tribune guys? Perhaps when you got nothing, you got nothing to lose. Is this a race to the bottom? The product of our superior educational system?
https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/news/ap...">https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/news/ap...
https://www.democracynow.org/2018/4/2...">https://www.democracynow.org/2018/4/2...
https://science.howstuffworks.com/env...">https://science.howstuffworks.com/env...
https://www.nrdc.org/sites/default/fi...">https://www.nrdc.org/sites/default/fi...
https://sciencing.com/effects-oil-spi...">https://sciencing.com/effects-oil-spi...
OldFort2012 5 years, 11 months ago
Do we consume oil? Yes, we do. That is just a fact. Do we wish we could move 100% to renewables. Of course. But we all know that that is pie in the sky and that we will be among the last countries in the world to get there. Because we are dirt poor. No one can afford a new electric vehicle and as a country we cannot afford the tens of billions it would cost to move to renewables. We are stuck where we are until renewable costs collapse and that is decades away. Those are just facts. Everything else is wishful thinking and pie in the sky. We will still be driving oil consuming Japanese bangers decades after the rich nations have only electric cars. Fact.
IF (big IF) there is oil, we have no choice but to exploit it. It is also the moral thing to do. Since we consume oil, how is it OK to let others produce what WE consume and take the environmental risk on themselves? Our consumption, our risk. That is the way it should be.
Bahama7 5 years, 11 months ago
Drilling for oil is a step forward the whole country. Of course do it safely, but what is the risk with one exploratory well? I wonder if Mr Darville realises who many millions of barrels are shipped through our waters each year?
Bahama7 5 years, 11 months ago
Porcupine -
Shall i post a few links of massive oil discoveries in the Caribbean?!
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