In a recent article, The Tribune’s Neil Hartnell shared statements from Matt Aubry, the executive director of the Bahamas’ Organization for Responsible Governance (ORG), Rashema Ingraham, the executive director of Waterkeepers Bahamas and Casuarina McKinney-Lambert, the executive director of the Bahamas Reef Environment Educational Foundation (BREEF).
The three organizations have different missions but today they all agree, the government of the Bahamas needs to fully enact the Freedom of Information Act. The act was partially enacted since 2017.
Presently, it is nearly impossible to determine the details of government contracts and major developments that severely impact or risk Bahamian lives and livelihoods, like the oil exploration on the Cay Sal Bank that BPC intends to continue in the future as outlined in their report to the London Stock Exchange.
Concurrent with the farm-out process, the Company intends to exercise its right to renew the four southern licences into a third exploration period at the end of the current second exploration period (at the end of June 2021). The third exploration period will last for three years, and will require a further exploration well to be drilled before the period expires, failing which the licences would be forfeited (i.e., “drill or drop”).
RNS Number : 2483T
Bahamas Petroleum Company PLC
24 March 2021
It is still unclear why BPC could not complete the intended drilling operation at Perseverance #1 or if they received all the required permits and licenses to operate in the Bahamas or if they have enough insurance coverage to protect and or restore the Bahamian habitats and industries they risk with their drilling operations.
Please read the freedom of information act. Consider the strength it will lend to our democracy and support those fighting to find the truth regarding the current developments within our country.