RE: The judicial review application has apparently been filed.9 Dec 2020 00:25
BREAKING: Environmental groups Waterkeeper Bahamas Limited and Coalition to Protect Clifton Bay have filed an application in the Supreme Court for leave to bring judicial review proceedings against the decision to approve exploratory oil drilling in The Bahamas. The application names Minister of the Environment Romauld Ferreira, Environmental Protection and Planning Director Rochelle Newbold and Attorney General Carl Bethel as respondents. According to court documents obtained by Eyewitness News, the applicants believe they have a “very strong prima facie case” that the February and April decisions to provide Bahamas Petroleum Company’s (BPC) environmental clearance and renew the company’s licenses to December 2020 were “procedurally unfair, unlawful, an abuse of power and irrational”. The applicants are seeking for the court to quash each and all decisions relating to the approval to drill for oil. Fred Smith, QC, represents the applicants.