The Tribune

EDITOR, The Tribune.

As a trained lawyer and a media personality it pains me to see how representatives from the activist groups who are against the oil drilling initiative by Bahamas Petroleum Company and those from the company itself who appear to be litigating their issues and differences in the media and press. This is unprecedented and unheard of.

Those who oppose the project are asking simple questions to matters which, ordinarily, will come to light if and when an Order for Discovery is made by the presiding Supreme Court judge. A question has been raised about whether or not BPCL has adequate insurance to cover any possible oil spillage.

Questions have been raised as to whether or not the required licensing fees would have been paid. These questions, in my submission, are all mute and have absolutely nothing to do with the relevant permits whose validity are being question through a judicial review process. The whole matter is sub judice so I fail to understand how, in law or equity extra judicial comments and opinions are being raised or expressed. The presiding jurist should immediately issue a gag order on all parties.

Simon Potter, the erstwhile President of BPCL, has been extensively quoted in the media and press as being in favour of a Sovereign Wealth Fund as proposed by the former old PLP administration and now the fragile and shaky FNM regime. It’s my opinion that Potter is seriously out of bounds on this and he should shut his juicy mouth and sit small pending the outcome of the judicial review process.

He seems to be a reasonably intelligent individual. He and BPCL are, basically, guests in our wonderful nation and he and the company should/must refrain from injecting themselves into local and divisive politics. Their job is to drill for oil and nothing else. Gratuitous remarks about a Sovereign Wealth Fund have nothing to do with that and should be kept to themselves.

Litigation is meant to be dealt with in a competent court and not in the newspapers and other media outlets. A mandatory gag order should be imposed by the learned Supreme Court jurist and let the legal chips, so to speak, fall where they may. To God then, that Great Jurist, in all things, be the glory.

ORTLAND BODIE Jr

Nassau,

January 21, 2021.