The Tribune

By NICO SCAVELLA

Tribune Staff Reporter

nscavella@tribunemedia.net

THE government has appointed retired Justice Joseph Strachan to conduct a “thorough” independent review into the cause of the delay in the release of a report on the ramifications of a Rubis gas leak in the Marathon constituency more than two years ago.

A statement from the Office of the Attorney General yesterday said Justice Strachan’s review of the report by Black and Veatch International is intended to “ensure that the processes to support future investigations and enquiries conducted in the public interest” are managed according to “international best practices as well as to ensure timely disclosure when these reports are going to be made public.”

The statement said the government of the Bahamas is “taking the necessary measures to ensure that there are no future delays in the lawful release of important reports to Bahamians.”

“Justice Strachan will have full access to all material and personnel required to adequately complete the inquiry,” the government added.

The gas leak, which occurred in late 2012, and the subsequent withholding of Black and Veatch’s report by government officials for over a year has led to outrage by those within the affected community, who feel that the government was negligent in its role to promote and protect public health.

Last week, Chief Medical Officer Glen Beneby said the government will “leave no stone unturned” in assisting residents of Marathon affected by the fuel spill at a Rubis service station on Robinson Road.

Advising that health investigations began in Marathon as early as May 4 and was only interrupted by “inclement” weather the following Tuesday, Mr Beneby said both the Ministry and the Department of Health take the matter as “a very serious responsibility.”

The fuel release of 12,000 gallons of unleaded gasoline was observed in late December 2012 by former operator Fiorente Management, and reported to Rubis on January 19, 2013, according to the BEST Commission.

Black and Veatch was later contracted by the government in 2013 to ensure that the actions taken by station owner Rubis Bahamas to address the release were appropriate to protect public health. It was also with a view to ensure there was adequate remediation of the environment. The report found that residents were exposed to potentially harmful chemicals.

The report was completed on February 20, 2014 and only released last month, causing some observers to accuse the government of suppressing the document.

Last Monday, angry Marathon residents flocked to Grace Community Church for a town meeting on the matter, demanding that the government reconsider the number of households affected by the Rubis fuel spill.

Last Sunday the government issued a statement on the fuel spill. It said Rubis had accepted responsibility for the incident, and that the government had 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, and testing and reporting on contamination levels for wells, residences and local businesses.

The government also pledged to continue testing and monitoring in the affected area for “the next several years,” adding that it would update the public through “quarterly reports.”