Free National Movement (FNM) Leader Dr. Hubert Minnis urged the government to produce environmental regulations for oil drilling ahead of any referendum on the issue.
Minnis cautioned the Christie administration against leaving the fate of a weighty issue like oil drilling to a vote before crafting and making public detailed environmental safeguards against a potential disaster.
He also warned the public not to be tempted by the lure of money and jobs that striking oil could bring the country if the government did not have extensive regulations before a public vote.
“Bahamians ought not to allow the PLP government just to think of a short-term, quick fix, meaning you get money, and then a long-term destruction of The Bahamas.”
His comments came after Bahamas Petroleum Company Limited (BPC) confirmed that it received a letter of notification from Environment Minister Kenred Dorsett, saying it is in compliance with the terms of its oil exploration licenses.
In a press release issued by BPC yesterday, the company said the September 7 letter written by Dorsett explained that the company was in full compliance with its oil exploration licenses, but any drilling would be subject to the outcome of a referendum.
The letter echoed public statements Prime Minister Perry Christie made before and after the May 7 general election.
“As a result of this notification by the government, BPC confirms that the timing of their obligation to commence its first exploration well is now dependant on the outcome of a government sponsored national referendum on oil exploration,” BPC said.
The company said it saw the communication from the government as “recognition of a constructive partnership toward BPC’s responsible oil exploration”.
Source: Taneka Thompson,
The Nassau Guardian
