The Tribune

By AVA TURNQUEST

Tribune Chief Reporter

aturnquest@tribunemedia.net

GRAND Bahama Human Rights Association Vice-president Joseph Darville yesterday called on Marathon MP Jerome Fitzgerald to “break his silence” over the underground gas spill at the service station at Robinson and Old Trail Roads.

The GBHRA renewed its call for government intervention on behalf of residents who claim that they have not had any health assessments since the leak of some 30,000 barrels from a Rubis station was first reported in October 2012.

“The pleas of Marathon families for a guarantee of their safety and security have fallen on deaf ears,” Mr Darville said.

“So far, the government has done little but give lip service to caring about the health of these citizens and the integrity of their property, but the Christie administration has not lifted a finger to actually help them.”

He added: “I hereby renew my call on the government to urgently take action by removing affected residents from their homes, testing them all for any possible associated medical problems.”

Cable Bahamas is suing Rubis and former operator Fiorente Management for up to $15 million in damages, alleging that their “negligence” resulted in its property, mainly its Customer Service Building, being contaminated by the 2012 gasoline leak.

It was alleged that the hazardous vapours from the leak had forced 43 staff to seek medical treatment before its customer service building was closed in January 2013, and one staff member had not fully recovered from serious health issues.

Rubis (Bahamas) and the operator of its Robinson Road gas station are both resisting Cable Bahamas’ efforts to obtain a summary judgment against them, while blaming each other for the massive gasoline leak that sparked the initial $15 million claim.

In October last year, Environment Minister Kenred Dorset explained that the independent report prepared by consultants Black and Veatch – on the reported 30,000-gallons of gasoline that leaked from underground storage tanks and allegedly contaminated groundwater in the surrounding area – will have to receive clearance from the Attorney General’s Office before findings are released.

He said this is due to the ongoing civil litigation between Rubis Bahamas and Cable Bahamas. At that time, more than seven months had passed since a comprehensive statement on the leak was promised and Mr Dorsett said the government was considering a town meeting to address “any unnecessary fears”.

Several calls or emails put to Mr Fitzgerald for comment on the matter have not been returned.

“Where is Jerome Fitzgerald? The Marathon MP and minister of education, who has continually asserted his care and concern for the next generation, must know that there are many children in the area who have been exposed to the toxic fumes and other extremely harmful substances as a result of this leak,” Mr Darville said. “Years have passed without a word from Mr Fitzgerald, and no confirmation that the spill has been properly cleaned up.

“There have been no health screenings of residents,” he added, “despite the fact that gasoline is known to cause a host of aggressive illnesses, including many forms of cancer.”