The Tribune

By PACO NUNEZ Tribune News Editor THE Chinese Embassy has denied any companies from China are involved in oil exploration in the Bahamas. Last week, DNA candidate Ben Albury said his sources claim Bahamas Petroleum Company (BPC) is partnering with 12 companies, most of them "of Chinese origin", in its bid to drill for oil in Bahamian waters. But Wang Quanhuo, chief of the Economic and Commercial Office at the embassy, said the assertion is completely without basis. He said: "According to my information, up until today, no Chinese company has applied for drilling for oil in the Bahamas to the competent authorities of the Bahamas government. "No Chinese company has discussed the matter with local oil companies. And no Chinese company has come to register its activities in the aforementioned area in the Chinese Embassy." A moratorium on oil exploration has been in place since 2008 and Environment Ministry officials have repeatedly stressed that it will remain in place for the foreseeable future. Yesterday The Tribune published a list, released by Environment Minister Earl Deveaux, of the companies that have applied for or been granted licenses to explore for oil, either before or during the moratorium. Last night, Mr Albury issued a statement on the list, noting 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. Saying he is "not surprised", in light of these facts, that the PLP has failed to join the conversation on oil exploration, Mr Albury asked the following questions of the opposition party: * Why weren't the Bahamian people made aware of the original permits granted by the PLP between 2005-2007? * Is the PLP prepared to put aside their own personal interest and block the renewal of exploration permits until the Bahamian people are involved in the decision making process? * Are Mr Davis and Mr Gomez willing to resign from their professional responsibility to BPC and/or recuse themselves from votes regarding oil exploration? "Mr Gomez, Mr Davis and the PLP should consider answering these questions expeditiously and transparently as the Bahamian people will settle for nothing less," Mr Albury said. BPC, meanwhile, failed to respond to claims it has been violating the moratorium. When contacted, an employee said no one was available for comment, and no one would be for the foreseeable future.