The Tribune

EDITOR, The Tribune.

Following the recent revelations concerning the handling of the now notorious Marathon fuel leak, one would think Rubis would do everything it could to bring additional leaks to the public’s attention immediately.

After all, residents were kept in the dark for more than two years as their health was placed at serious risk when more than 20,000 gallons of gasoline leaked into the ground from a Rubis fuel station.

What are we to think then, when we learn that in addition to that station on Robinson Road, two other Rubis stations in New Providence seem to be leaking fuel? I wonder how the people who live in and around Sandyport and near to Porky’s service station on East Street South feel today about this particular corporate entity.

How long has the company known about these leaks? How quickly did they tell the government? And, for God’s sake, why didn’t anyone tell us – the public – immediately?

The company, it seems, has learned very little from the disaster in Marathon.

This however, is not necessarily their fault, as the public outrage sparked by that incident has fallen squarely on the shoulders of the government, in particular the member of parliament for Marathon, Jerome Fitzgerald.

What the government should have done from day one in the Marathon case was launch a full investigation into the circumstances behind the leak, and bring appropriate prosecutions where necessary.

For whatever reason, they did not do this, and the Christie administration appears to be giving Rubis a free pass. Quite understandably, therefore, the company probably feels no pressure to keep the public informed of any problems at their various stations around the capital.

We as a public must demand accountability. We must demand that our government make us aware of any and all threats to our health and well being. We must demand that they cease taking the pressure off corporate investors, investigate any and all cases of fuel leaks fully, and let the chips fall where they may.

TOM PAINE

Nassau,

June 25, 2015.