The Tribune

By CELESTE NIXON Tribune Staff Reporter cnixon@tribunemedia.net DESPITE there being no foreseeable end to the moratorium on oil exploration in the short term, Bahamas Petroleum Company is claiming it intends to drill its first test well this year and no later than April 2013. While, according to Minister of Environment Earl Deveaux the moratorium, which remains in effect, covers oil exploration and "definitely drilling", the Bahamas Petroleum Company's (BPC) website claims the company "intends to continue the exploration programme in the next extension (through 2015)". Mr Deveaux has confirmed that BPC has certain rights and obligations included in its permit, which are written into the act and regulations. However, The Tribune understands even if the provisions allow non drilling exploration the company has yet to apply for specific permits to test for oil which must be approved by the Governor General. Tribune feature writer Larry Smith, in an article published this week said under existing Bahamian law, licensees are required to drill an exploratory well within a certain timeframe - which in BPC's case is prior to April 2013 - or risk forfeiting their rights. The company says it has completed the required environmental impact assessment for this test well and is already working on a management plan. According to Ben Albury, the DNA's candidate for Montagu, the website should be clarified by the BPC and the government. "Either Mr Deveaux is being misleading or BPC is misleading investors," Mr Albury said. "If the company is out raising money through investors to continue what they are doing based on the claim they have permission to proceed, then I think it is up to the government to save our good name and take a stand and say what BPC is selling this investment on is not true or incorrect." Last week, The Tribune published a list, released by Mr Deveaux, of the companies that have applied for or been granted licenses to explore for oil, either before or during the moratorium. Mr Albury noted it was listed that BPC is represented by the law firm of PLP deputy leader Philip Davis, and that the company's managing director in the Bahamas is Jerome Gomez, opposition candidate for Killarney. Once again calling on the PLP to join the conversation on oil exploration, Mr Albury questioned both the party's connection to BPC and whether they are receiving election donations. Yesterday, Mr Albury provided documents said to be a presentation made by BPC to their investors earlier this month entitled: "Reducing Risk: Ready for the Drill Bit," which said that two new Bahamian directors had been appointed to the company's board. Mr Albury believes they are Mr Gomez and Mr Davis. In Mr Albury's opinion, Mr Davis and Mr Gomez's involvement in BPC is a "major conflict of interest", especially if re-elected in the upcoming elections and oil exploration comes before Parliament for debate. "They should either resign from BPC or if they win their seats excuse themselves from any debate as it relates to oil and Bahamas Petroleum - they need to stand down in the interest of keeping things transparent," Mr Albury said. Mr Albury said he has written to the minister on a number of occasions expressing his concerns on oil exploration in the Bahamas, most recently on March 21 requesting a meeting to discuss the matter. The DNA will take all measures to get questions answered, he said. "Oil drilling threatens two of our country's biggest industries, tourism and fishing, therefore the DNA demands to know if Mr Deveaux and the FNM government have ensured the protection of Bahamian interest." "It is that these decisions are being made in the confines of back rooms and secret meetings," Mr Albury said. "I want the public to know what is about to happen in our precious sea." Up to press time, Mr Davis could not be reached for comment.