By RASHAD ROLLE
Tribune Staff Reporter
rrolle@tribunemedia.net
THE Ministry of Health’s chief medical officer will begin meeting with Marathon residents affected by the 2012 underground Rubis fuel leak today with health screenings expected to be complete by June 1, the government said in a statement yesterday.
The government also pledged to continue testing and monitoring in the affected area for “the next several years” adding it would update the public through “quarterly reports”.
In that statement, the government also expressed “sincere regret” for delaying the release of a Black and Veatch International report for more than a year.
According to the government’s statement, “an initial analysis of the report’s release reveals that poor co-ordination and administration led to the delay”.
That BVI report concluded that Marathon residents may have been exposed to harmful chemicals, including cancer-causing compound benzene, following the leak.
The contrition from the government came days after parliamentarians rejected Fort Charlotte MP Dr Andre Rollins’ motion in the House of Assembly to appoint a select committee to probe the controversy.
In an effort to quell the mounting public outcry over its handling of the leak of 12,000 gallons of fuel, the Christie administration said that within 15 days it will appoint an independent expert “to make public a review of the handling of the report, identify specific errors leading to the delay and recommend a new process for timely disclosure.”
The pledge to investigate the matter and to prevent future mishaps comes amid public clamour for answers and criticism of the way in which the matter has been handled.
Maintaining it acted reasonably “to ensure the care and safety of residents in the area,” the government announced that it would take further action to mitigate health risks to residents in the area.
“The chief medical officer and PAHO (the Pan American Health Organisation) will lead health screening clinics for those in affected areas,” the statement said, adding that these tests will be completed by June 1.
The government also announced that a new bill would be tabled by October 19 “to enhance public safety and environmental protection.”
The bill will create a Department of Environmental Planning and Protection and would put in place petroleum sector regulations on the handling, maintenance and cleanup of contaminants.
A review of actions taken after the original spill, which took place in late 2012, demonstrates that reasonable steps were taken to mitigate risks, the government’s press release said.
“Rubis…accepted responsibility for the spill,” the statement said. “The Bahamas government immediately compelled Rubis to remediate the situation by: removing all contamination in water and soil, containing the spill and preventing cross contamination to other locations or sites, testing and reporting on contamination levels for wells, residences and local businesses.”
The press statement said a review of steps taken after the spill also demonstrates that “Rubis has financed…operations out of pocket, at no cost to the people of The Bahamas to decrease the risk of negative health effects, access to city water has been assured and residents of the area have been instructed not to use ground water, but city water instead.”
Residents of the area have reported that their homes are significantly devalued following the spill; there was no mention in yesterday’s press release of how the government or Rubis plan to address the financial concerns arising from this.
Nonetheless, the press release said: “Samples taken in March 2014 and February 2015 by noted international environmental consulting firm Arcadis, engaged by Rubis, show that in the locations where these steps were taken, the presence of benzene and other potential contaminants are at safe, acceptable levels.”
“In the interest of public health, however, we will continue testing and monitoring for the next several years under the advisement of international environmental consultants,” the statement said.
Yesterday’s press release marked a notable change in how the government has been responding to questions relating to the oil spill.
Last November, area residents told The Tribune they had received no information from the government about remediation plans for the area, or the results of initial tests conducted to determine their level of exposure.
Earlier this year, residents also alleged that no health assessments have been conducted in the community.
The fuel release of 12,000 gallons of unleaded gasoline at the service station at Robinson and Old Trail Road was observed in late December 2012 by former operator Fiorente Management, and reported to Rubis on January 19, 2013, according to the BEST Commission.
Comments
GrassRoot 9 years, 7 months ago
how can an independent expert be independent when he gets paid by one of the perpetrators? the stupidity is endless....
TalRussell 9 years, 7 months ago
Like a bouncing ball that eventually runs out its inflation, so too is this PLP cabinet. about to deflate before the eyes all. Comrades in PLP cabinet the controversy regarding why the report was withheld from the public is not helped by government’s newest statement that, "an initial analysis of the report’s release reveals that poor co-ordination and administration led to the delay." Which is the truth cuz it sure as hell can't be two truths? Are we now being asked to dismiss that it was the AG who ordered against releasing the report? Would the AG be willing to step forward to publicly disclose what, or whom, led to her decision to hold-off releasing the report?
duppyVAT 9 years, 7 months ago
This testing MUST be undertaken by a third party ............ not the government or Rubis ........ PAHO should be the arbitrator of the independent screening of Marathon residents.
ThisIsOurs 9 years, 7 months ago
What about the people who died of cancer within the last three years. Because people did die
sansoucireader 9 years, 7 months ago
Exactly! I knew a lady through Grace Avenue who suffered the same fate. I think she had 3 different cancers!
Well_mudda_take_sic 9 years, 7 months ago
It is abundantly clear now by the Christie Administration's own admission that the government with the assistance of the Attorney General, Allyson Maynard-Gibson, wrongfully orchestrated a campaign to keep out of the public domain reports and information vital to the physical health, safety and financial well-being of families and individuals resident in Marathon Estates who live anywhere near the ground soil and ground water contaminated by the large leakage of fuel over an extended period of time. It seems the health issues at play here were very deliberately covered up by the Christie Administration and his Attorney General (Allyson Gibson-Maynard) for the purpose of wrongfully endeavouring to protect the financial interests of both Rubis and the Christie Administration, effectively putting those financial interests ahead of the physical health, safety and financial well-being of hundreds and hundreds of Bahamians. The underground fuel tanks of the gasoline station leaked, over many years, much more than the 12,000 gallons the Christie Administration and their non-independent hired experts (and Rubis and its conflicted hired experts) would have us believe. The damage has already been done by prolonged exposure to the proven cancer-causing agents; accordingly, health tests now will do little towards detecting and preventing the serious and/or fatal cancers that many exposed individuals will suffer from over many years to come. The Christie Administration's wrongful delay in this serious health matter affecting many Bahamians is made that more egregious by the fact that Rubis has in recent years been a major contributor of funds to events organised and endorsed by the PLP party and to the PLP party itself. The fact that Christie has not called for the resignation of his Attorney General tells all the extent to which collaboration was involved in suppressing the report and other information that should have long ago been made public. Don't expect the transparency promised on this matter going forward. After all, we still don't know the name of the former BEC director involved in the $350,000 bribery scandal; we also still don't know the 13 delinquent borrowers behind the $100 million in loans heaved on to the backs of Bahamian taxpayers by way of transfer from Bank of The Bahamas to Bahamas Resolve; we also still don't know the names of those Bahamians illegally holding the equivalent of many many millions of dollars in Swiss bank accounts; and you can add countless other things the Christie Administration has failed to expeditiously investigate and make their findings public in the public interest.
Reality_Check 9 years, 7 months ago
Now all can fully understand and appreciate the steadfast intransigence of Perry Christie and Allyson Maynard-Gibson when it comes to enacting an effective and much needed Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA).
SP 9 years, 7 months ago
Freedom Of Information Act will NEVER see the light of day in Bahamas while PLP or FNM are in control!
TalRussell 9 years, 7 months ago
Comrade Reality-Check isn't it the same two Cabinet Ministers Allison & Jerrome, who will be making all the W4 decisions on the FOI, likes who, what, when, why any members public will ever gets see anything contained in a FOI report? Obviously, you have to be able to see the PLP's sun if you want to see their eclipse.
observer2 9 years, 7 months ago
It is likely that all gas station storage tanks and the electricity company have leaked enormous amount of fuel and cancer causing agents into the Nassau water table for the last 75 years.
In the US these tanks need to be changed frequently and large fines are placed against companies that pollute the water table. Also, once pollution is found the water in that are is not used, sometimes for up to 30 years! There is no regulation here and the corrosive nature of salt water means that the gas tanks should have been changed more frequently than in the US.
As Bahamian public and private water companies extract water from the water table it maybe that these cancer causing agents have affected all Bahamians in Nassau.
Could this be the missing link/cause behind the extremely high levels of cancer in the Nassau? Also, the octane levels of the gas used is so low it could not be used in developed countries like the US as its fumes are poisonous and unfit to breathe. But we sell them here in the Bahamas. The energy/executive/prosecutorial/financial/legal cartel is untouchable and united to protect their financial interest at the expense of the entire population of the Bahamas.
Of course the powers that be will keep the Marathon/Rubis investigation narrowly focused to the Rubis/Marathon station, the investigation will be run by partial interest and be overtaken by the next drama which will be here soon than you think. The need to investigate the purity of our water and air supply for the entire Bahamas will be ignored.
This is a middle class issue and it doesn't resonate with the lower income classes who are the base support for the political establishment. So as we are horrified, the political elite are unphased as their base is secure. Give them their carnival, sports events, numbers, bars and churches, free medical clinics, poor education, menial jobs and subsidies and they are happy. Nevermind that the lower income class also have the highest levels of cancer and the least ability to go to private clinics for treatment.
My suggestion is that civil society embark upon a comprehensive testing of the water table and air throughout New Providence to see if it is safe. We the people need to do this as those persons who have a fiduciary duty to protect us are clearly derelict in their duties.
TalRussell 9 years, 7 months ago
Comrade Observer2 you seem to have overlooked how the AG held back on making the report public. It's the whole damn system of government we the people tolerate that needs revamping.
ThisIsOurs 9 years, 7 months ago
Exactly exactly exactly.
Well_mudda_take_sic 9 years, 7 months ago
Your big picture assessment of the situation is spot on. The oil & gas industry worldwide has a well known history of unconscionably seeking to get away with environmental poisoning in order to achieve greater profits at the expense of human lives. Ecuador is a text book example. The much higher incidence of certain types of cancers experienced by Bahamians living on New Providence Island is a statistical anomaly that many highly specialized oncology experts will tell you cannot be explained by poor diet alone. For decades gasoline service stages on New Providence Island operated without ever being required to replace their fuel holding tanks, during which time the tanks were very vulnerable to the corrosive effects of the high concentration of salt found in our ground soil. Shell, Texaco and Esso were laughing all the way to the bank as they forged political relationships with both the PLP and FNM governments that allowed them to get away with just about anything for the sake of higher profits. You don't have to look any further than Franky ("Snake") and Sharon Wilson to realize that these political relationships forged by the oil & gas industry are alive and well today, much to the detriment of the health and well-being of most Bahamians. Christie's relationship with the Wilson family is such that he will likely propose legislation that protects rather than punishes the oil & gas industry for the serious harm they have undoubtedly caused many thousands of Bahamians that have over the years lived anywhere near a gasoline station. For decades the oil & gas industry did "hush, hush" cost-benefit studies that supported and tolerated fuel tank leakages until such time that they became unprofitable thereby justifying the significant capital expenditure associated with their replacement. These are well documented facts!
Well_mudda_take_sic 9 years, 7 months ago
Posted elsewhere by Reality_Check: "And let's not forget that the Chairman of our Public Hospital Authority is none other than Frank Smith who happens to be the son-in-law of Franky Wilson, aka "Snake." How ironic, Snake poisoning us and Smith responsible for our primary health facility!"
DonAnthony 9 years, 7 months ago
I have an idea, have Jerome "I need my job " Fitzgerald, Kendrick " teachable moment" Dorsett and Allison " what delay there was no delay" Maynard Gibson drink a glass of marathon polluted water everyday for a year and then let us monitor their progress. They will be the control sample in this case study.
TalRussell 9 years, 7 months ago
PLP "Twinkies" Cabinet answers questions of the fuel leak.
Rep. Waxman Questions Big Tobacco
.........//https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NC4f_yfuR34
TalRussell 9 years, 7 months ago
Speech made by then Senator Jerome Fitzgerald upon launching his campaign for PLP's Deputy Leader position.
"As I moved about the country, people wanted to know who is Jerome Kennedy Fitzgerald? They had seen me on TV and heard me on talk shows. Some said they thought I was taller, others said they did not realize I was 6 foot 2 inches. Most said that I was a lot gentler in person than they had imagined. I promised them that I would not be easing up in the Senate as long as the Government FAILED to address the pressing issues facing The Bahamas. The role of Deputy Leader, however, is a delicate one requiring patience but not necessarily SUCKING UP."
Comrade Minister, now the people's does in fact know you are no where standing 6 foot and 2 inches tall, when it calls for you to stand up for your own constituents. Not even 5' tall.
killemwitdakno 9 years, 7 months ago
Waste of money. Tests for benzene exposure aren't going to show that they've been drinking and breathing gas for two years. This is serious if they're even going to spend on a lie.
The BEST report says there is still free product in the water table but no one says to WHAT LEVELS! Tell people where to get the kits for testing themselves since it's not being arranged. ZNS needs to have a special on this matter.
You know the spill has to be frightening for Rubis to do so much remediation before telling anyone.
killemwitdakno 9 years, 7 months ago
Gasoline Effects
Studies in laboratory animals have evaluated the health effects of longer-term oral and inhalation exposure (i.e., months to years) to high levels of oxygenates. These studies show that longer-term, high level exposure to oxygenates cause adverse effects on the liver, kidney and central nervous system of laboratory animals. Two oxygenates, MTBE and TAME, cause cancer in laboratory animals exposed to high levels for most or all of their lifetime. Whether these or other oxygenates cause cancer in humans is not known. Delayed effects of gasoline exposure may include hemorrhage of the pancreas and fatty degeneration of the liver and of the proximal convoluted tubules and glomeruli of the kidneys. Repeated exposure to very high levels of gasoline can cause poor appetite, weakness, and even brain or kidney damage. Gasoline contains benzene and other additives that may cause future health problems after repeated, high-level exposures.
Long-term exposure in the open can also damage your lungs.When you are regularly exposed to fumes from gasoline or diesel, your lungs may start to deteriorate over time. In fact, a 2012 study by the World Health Organization found an increased risk of lung cancer in people who are regularly exposed to diesel fumes (WHO, 2012).
https://www.health.ny.gov/environmental…
http://fox6now.com/2014/04/27/nearly-tw…
killemwitdakno 9 years, 7 months ago
Benzene Effects
Benzene is known to cause cancer, based on evidence from studies in both people and lab animals. The link between benzene and cancer has largely focused on leukemia and cancers of other blood cells. Rates of leukemia, particularly acute myeloid leukemia (AML), have been found to be higher in studies of workers exposed to high levels of benzene.
Benzene has been shown to cause chromosome changes in bone marrow cells in the lab. (The bone marrow is where new blood cells are made.) Such changes are commonly found in human leukemia cells.
Long-term exposure to benzene mainly harms the bone marrow, the soft, inner parts of bones where new blood cells are made. This can result in:
Anemia (a low red blood cell count), which can cause a person to feel weak and tired. A low white blood cell count, which can lower the body’s ability to fight infections and might even be life-threatening. A low blood platelet count, which can lead to excess bleeding. There is also some evidence that long-term exposure to benzene might harm reproductive organs. Some women who have breathed high levels of benzene for many months have had irregular menstrual periods and ovary shrinkage, but it is not known for certain if benzene caused these effects. It is not known if benzene exposure affects the fetus in pregnant women or fertility in men.
If you think you may have been exposed to benzene over a long period of time, speak to a doctor. Benzene can be measured in the blood or breath, and breakdown products of benzene can be measured in the urine. These tests can only detect recent exposures to benzene. They cannot predict possible health effects. http://m.cancer.org/cancer/cancercauses…
killemwitdakno 9 years, 7 months ago
Symptoms to watch for:
Acute Myelogenous Leukemia usually first presents in flu-like symptoms. Those who suffer from the condition may experience the following symptoms: Fever Pain in bones Feeling listless and exhausted Breathing difficulties Pale skin Experiencing frequent infections Bruising easily Typical treatment for AML includes a bone marrow or cord blood unit transplant.
http://smslegal16-px.rtrk.com/benzene.h… http://smslegal16-px.rtrk.com/benzene/a…
MYELODYSPLASIA SYMPTOMS, DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT
Although many myelodysplasia patients do not suffer any symptoms before being diagnosed, these symptoms may be found in patients with the disease: Bruise easily or without apparent cause Fatigue Excessive bleeding, including gums or nose Heart palpitations Pale skin Dizziness and general weakness Headaches Ulcers in the mouth http://smslegal16-px.rtrk.com/benzene/m…
One of the more severe conditions linked to those who experience long-term exposure to Benzene, multiple myeloma is a cancer that affects the body’s plasma cells. These cells produce antibodies that protect our bodies from illness and infections.
Multiple myeloma causes the growth of abnormal plasma cells, which repress the healthy cells and weaken the immune system. It is a progressive condition that is usually fatal within 3 years of receiving a diagnosis.
Workers in many industries have suffered from this condition as a result of prolonged or high levels of toxic chemical exposure, and as such may be entitled to financial compensation through a Benzene multiple myeloma lawsuit. http://smslegal16-px.rtrk.com/benzene/m…
Many patients who consider Benzene non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma lawsuits found out about their conditions through common initial symptoms, which can include: Fever Fatigue Loss of appetite Weight loss Red or itchy skin patches Swelling in lymph nodes (neck, groin, underarms) Blood tests are required to verify the source of these symptoms, as they are also common to many other illnesses. Further testing may be needed to detect non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. http://smslegal16-px.rtrk.com/benzene/n…
http://www.cleanwaterpartners.org/benze…
Google "benzene effects "
ThisIsOurs 9 years, 7 months ago
I am disappointed in Allison Maynard Gibson. Extremely so. She has proven to be very intelligent and a departure from the usual brain functioned challenged political candidates. How could she in good conscience sit on this report while people were dying?? While her relatives were dying? How could she sit everyday at the breakfast table and eat?
What about the air. How can any independent body go back in time to 2012 and test the air.
I cry shame on every sitting member of Cabinet. Shame shame shame. My relative is dead. She is not coming back. Enjoy your boil fish and mutton.
SP 9 years, 7 months ago
What will it take to wake some people up? You can continue crying shame until the Atlantic ocean and Caribbean sea both turn red with blood.
Allison Maynard Gibson never gave two pinches of rat shit about you or anyone else.
Keep practicing ass by voting PLP and FNM and learn the true meaning of "DIEHARD"
ThisIsOurs 9 years, 7 months ago
I'm not voting for Bran, sorry. He's proven to be immature. I've witnessed that personally. He is not ready to lead a country. That said I don't see another viable option yet...
killemwitdakno 9 years, 7 months ago
What was your relative's symptoms? When did they start?
ThisIsOurs 9 years, 7 months ago
I have no idea if the spill was the cause but neither does Mrs Gibson, that's my point. She sat on a report that very likely could have lessened health implications for some people. What kind of heart does she have? Is it normal? Normal people feel things.
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