Deputy Prime Minister Peter Turnquest. Photo: Terrel W. Carey/Tribune Staff
DEPUTY Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Peter Turnquest yesterday urged Bahamians not to be fooled by the “noise” surrounding the proposed $5.5 billion Oban Energies oil refinery and storage facility, stressing the government would not allow any project that is not environmentally sound.
He also shot down as “nonsense” speculation the government was “locked” into the project because a heads of agreement with the developer has been signed. He said as a sovereign nation, the Bahamas has the right to terminate any agreement, adding just because a heads of agreement has been signed it does not automatically mean a licence to operate will be issued.
He said the negative talk about the project has overshadowed the positive impact the project could have on Grand Bahama.
The East Grand Bahama MP added while industrial projects bring environmental risk, modern technology has reduced these factors.
“Recent discussions of Oban have brought this into sharp focus,” said Mr Turnquest, during his keynote address at the University of The Bahamas’ ‘Sustainable Grand Bahama’ conference at Grand Lucayan on Thursday morning.
“As is outlined in the heads of agreement, the environmental protection and mitigation protocols are at the forefront of any discussion, any decision, that the government of the Bahamas will make in regards to this project.
“From an economic point of view, we absolutely see value from the industrial sector and we believe that it is a sustainable model,” Mr Turnquest added. “We appreciate the environmental risk that industrial enterprises bring to a community, but we also appreciate that modern technology has substantially reduced those risks.”
According to a statement from Bahamas Information Services, Mr Turnquest advised Bahamians not to be “fooled by the noise” and to listen to every conversation coming out of public discussion about the Oban project.
“I’ve heard people say that the government of the Bahamas can’t cancel this agreement, that we’ve signed this heads of agreement without any environmental study and as a result we’re locked into this project… nonsense,” added Mr Turnquest.
“The fact of the matter is we’re a sovereign government and we have the ability to stop any project at any time. The fact that we signed a heads of agreement does not mean that we are obligated to issue a licence to operate. The heads of agreement is exactly that… an agreement.
“It says you agree to do X, and if you do X, we agree to do Y. Any of the conditions in that heads of agreement that are not completed to our satisfaction renders the agreement null and void.”
According to BIS, Mr Turnquest pointed out that at the end of the day a project does not become concrete and licenced to operate until the government has satisfied itself that all of the prerequisites are in play, that they are sound and they are satisfied that the project would bring benefit to the community.
“All of the noise in the market has drowned out the good news of the potential for this development,” added Minister Turnquest. “I only ask again for us to be open-minded and patient and let the process work.
“While we understand the risks that are involved, inasmuch as we can from a non-scientific point of view, we also understand the development potential of our industrial sector and what that can mean to the lives of ordinary Bahamians, who would not otherwise have an opportunity.”
Comments
Well_mudda_take_sic 6 years, 7 months ago
We need a new Finance Minister, one with some back bone. The bozo we have now is prepared to turn a blind eye to just about any and every thing, no matter how bad the facts of the matter may be, if he believes it would help him curry favour with the dimwitted doc.
Porcupine 6 years, 7 months ago
Wholeheartedly agree. Clueless leadership will lead us nowhere.
proudloudandfnm 6 years, 7 months ago
Loyalty to party instead of country makes good men look like fools.....
proudloudandfnm 6 years, 7 months ago
The FNM will be left with one question when next election rolls around and there is no new oil terminal on GB.
How in the hell did yall get so swung on this?!?!?
TalRussell 6 years, 7 months ago
Comrade KP having moved for the passing of the red government's very first Budget - admitted not only was it a PLP drafted budget but he's NEVER READ IT until he stood up in the House to move it................... so, presumably same applies to KP's talkin likes jackass must have likewise NOT read the FAKE SIGNATURE Oban Heads of Agreement (HOA), before talking such cancellation and environmental protection clauses in the HOF - cause they simply DO NOT EXIST. Wake up "Brave" or step aside for letting Minnis and KP off the Oban hooks and so damn easily... these two men's should be hungs by their pants asses up on meat hooks on Oban slaughter wall.
TalRussell 6 years, 7 months ago
The 'now missing since 10th May 2017 Red Shirts lack sense urgency Ma Comrade Deputy Leader KP - where Grand Bahamalanders still feelin' da pain and where is their access Crown Lands - oh yeah they gave 700 free acres targeted Grand Bahamalnders Crown Lands - to Oban. {No needs make up this man's they calls KP}.
............//////https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTLVDXPIpw4
ThisIsOurs 6 years, 7 months ago
"we understand the risks that are involved, inasmuch as we can from a non-scientific point of view, we also understand the development potential of our industrial sector and what that can mean to the lives of ordinary Bahamians, who would not otherwise have an opportunity.”
Should this deal go through, there'll be no opportunities for Bahamians, dream on Grand Bahama. You may get the job answering the phone or taking out the trash. But there will be money for the MP's lawyer and accountant friends and fir the MP's own accounting firm that they've left in the hands of a trusted partner anticipating the Mp's return to private life. That's about it. Look at what the CEB bill brought us, an ad in the paper asking for a developer fluent in German, French and Italian. The intent is clear, Bahamians need not apply, there's no jobs or training fir you, no understudy, watch the clever use of the jobs for Bahamians as MAY exist in the Oban deal, it will be dealt with easily, the jobs simply won't exist. You'll need to be able to speak fluent Russian
TigerB 6 years, 7 months ago
Well guys, ya piss off with the FNM, ya piss off with the PLP... we running out of options.. any more ideas? Let's put Brave back in! better yet let's try a newbie, da Mortimer fella a chance, he gat plenty bark!! The truth be told no body will please us..absolutely no body, das what being Bahamian is...
ThisIsOurs 6 years, 7 months ago
Not true. There are many persons in the FNM who would be pleasing, many in the DNA and a few in the PLP too! The problem is "dumb", "insecure" and "power hungry" always promotes dumb. No one to challenge them. For example, People have been saying from point break that certain people in Finance were simply not qualified for their job, why you think it take them almost a year to realize what everyone was saying? Dr Minnis was simply "comfortable" with two yes men. That's why we appear not to be progressing. It's why our athletic program isn't growing. We don't want the people who "know" telling us what to do or putting the kabosh on what we "want" to do, the contracts that will enrich our pocket e.g. Oban/BEST. So it's not upset at "The FNM", it's upset at visionless leadership. Solution: Leadership changes its approach or Change leadership and they'll be fine.
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