RE: Quick and dirty10 Dec 2020 17:27
The Tribune.
#After careful and extensive research into the oil industry and the safety measures available to ensure that there would be minimal possibility of an oil spill during the drilling of a sole exploratory well by your firm in Bahamian waters, I and my assorted nonprofit organisations, Common Cause and The National Republican Arena (ARENA) have decided to publicly support your efforts.
#I note that several so-called environmental groupings and fringe off shoots, have called upon the central government to cancel what would appear to be valid Heads of Agreement by force majeure (an unexpected or intervening natural phenomenon).
#The arrivals of Hurricane Dorian and now COVID-19 have been cited as such aspects of force majeure.
#We do not agree with this bogus posture for several reasons.
#Firstly, the onetime exploratory drilling is restricted to one well which, if samples are procured will immediately be capped.
#Secondly, the area where the drilling is slated to be done is not a recognised marine protected or sensitive preserve.
#Some 90-odd miles away from Andros, thousands of oil tankers and other huge vessels traverse that area every day of the year, without any major reported incidences of oil spillage or substantial leakages. The Cay Sal area is ‘protected’ but a balance must be found.
#Thirdly, and most importantly, The Bahamas is in a severe financial crunch. We (ordinary Bahamians) need all of the financial resources which we may have to be utilised for national development and reconstruction.
#While I am able to understand the bulk of the concerns of opponents, the question that begs an answer is: Where were these so-called opponents all of the past several years when the negotiations were going on and while the stocks were being publicly sold on various stock exchanges? It is not as if The Bahamas Petroleum Company was acting in a vacuum.
#Fourthly, to move for a Judicial Review after almost a decade of setting up and financing the anticipated exploratory well drilling operations and having expended millions of dollars/pound sterling by the company (based on a legal and valid Heads of Agreement with a competent Bahamian government), the wrong message would be sent to local and international companies that would want to do business with the government of the day.
#It is incumbent that at all times the word of a PLP or FNM or anything other administration must be trusted and enforceable.
#The contractual commitment of the government de jure could not be accepted or guaranteed… in other words with legal certainty…no more, no less.
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