The Tribune

By KHRISNA VIRGIL kvirgil@tribunemedia.net DESPITE the Government's assertions to the contrary, DNA Montagu candidate Ben Albury again insisted foreign companies are already looking for oil in Bahamian waters. Appearing on a radio talk show yesterday, Mr Albury said despite the moratorium on oil exploration, one company has already been given permission to drill. He said: "Bahamas Petroleum has permission to explore, and when they are ready they can go ahead with drilling without seeking the government's permission. Right this second, they are exploring for oil." At a press conference yesterday, Environment Minister Earl Deveaux again denied the claims, saying the moratorium remains in place. When asked to comment on other, unconnected allegations made by the DNA candidate on the radio show, Mr Deveaux said: "I have no intention on responding to someone who I am proposing to sue." He said he would request transcripts from Island FM, as he did not listen to the live broadcast. Mr Albury also warned Bahamians about the country's relationship with China. He said: "In my opinion, this is the greatest heist of all time. We have gotten millions of dollars in infrastructure from China, just as Nigeria did, and have borrowed a lot of money from them too. "Countries like China, who by the way is one of the poorest theatres of the environment, go into developing third world countries, like ours and exploit them. When they are done, and the country has already received the millions, in gifts, that country's hands are then tied. "We are being exploited again." Mr Albury said the government's "alarming" rate of borrowing was the main reason why international agencies decided to downgrade the Bahamas' financial rating. "By being downgraded to two levels above junk, the international community is concerned that we won't be able to pay our debt. So it then creates the scenario that we have to go to a less savoury character like China, who will lend us the money at great costs. They are poised and ready," he said.