An oily Bahamas Christmas

As of Friday, November 20, 2020

EDITOR, The Tribune.

An Oily Christmas in The Bahamas before 2020 is out, in a matter of weeks, foreign oil interests calling themselves Bahamas Petroleum Company (BPC), are poised to begin drilling for oil in Bahamian waters. For those unfamiliar with Bahamian waters, they are hard to see. Why? Well, these waters are hard to see because they are so clear and clean. Without fresh water rivers and major sources of pollution, the turquoise-tinted waters of The Bahamas are nearly pristine.

The vast bulk of our economy here is driven by the richness, love for, and continued health of these waters.

Looking out from our pink beaches, it is swimming and snorkeling, wading and beach combing, diving with sharks, along with sport fishing and exploring our crystalline waters which beckon people here from the world over.

Not only that, a sizable portion of our population makes their living as fishermen. Diving up lobster, conch, and fin-fish, not only providing our most valued, nutritious and delectable local seafood, but providing thousands of jobs to our people, and our tables with food.

Bone fishing guides, charter boat captains and tour operators all rely upon these unpolluted waters to make their living while employing many of our Family of Islands natives.

That in today’s day and age, The Bahamas, and the world at large, can allow the oil industry to jeopardise the economy, food sources, livelihoods and the very future of so many people in one of the most threatened island nations in the world is beyond me.

The debate on whether the burning of fossil fuels is good for our planet is over.

Isn’t it?

The debate on whether The Bahamas is threatened with extinction by sea level rise is over.

Isn’t it?

The age of medical doctors telling people that smoking cigarettes does not harm their health is over. Isn’t it?

So, how is it that a government that has been to the UN with their hand out for money to combat the effects of climate change can allow this drilling to move forward?

How is it that the Bahamian Prime Minister, a medical doctor who claims he is “science oriented”, remains silent on this matter while seeking money to combat the effects of climate change from the outside world?

The massive drilling rig, Stena iceMAX is now in the Canary Islands, ready to sail for The Bahamas.

According to Simon Potter, CEO of Bahamas Petroleum Company, “Perseverance One is a potentially basin-opening well, with the kind of scale and associated value uplift exposure rarely offered outside of oil majors,” Mr Potter argued.

“At the same time, our activities, in the event of success, have the capacity to be economically transformative for the nation of The Bahamas, and could ultimately contribute billions of dollars in royalty revenues to the national treasury at a time when the dual impact of recent hurricanes and the COVID-19 pandemic has been especially hard-felt by most Bahamians.”

Mr Potter added: “There’s no financial risk to the Government.”

Really Mr Potter. No financial risk? Tell that to the governments and people of the US Gulf Coast communities after the Horizon disaster. No financial risk, my ass.

Having written on this matter many times, I am asking for global support in opposing these most foolish activities.

Do I really need to go into what is at stake here? Do I really need to plead my case that drilling for oil in one of the most threatened countries on the planet makes no sense?

Is this not the time for us to expect worldwide support in our fight for our future?

I am asking, not for money, but for a few minutes of your time to address our newspapers, our Ministers of Parliament, our so-called “leaders”, in helping quash this most ill-timed game of Russian roulette.

We have too much to lose here in The Bahamas. This should not be a “What can I do?” moment, nor is this just an essay. We need everyone’s help. Take a few minutes to write. Please.

NORMAN TRABULSY Jr

Mangrove Cay,

Andros.

November 19, 2020.

The Bahamas Norman Trabulsy Jr is a father, husband and lover of Bahamian lands and waters. He is a licensed captain and nature guide, and a not always optimistic citizen activist in The Bahamas. He can be reached at ntrabulsyjr@gmail.com

Bahama7 4 years, 1 month ago

Your jumping to the conclusion that there is oil in this well? It could be dust, a bit of gas and lots of sea water.

Porcupine 4 years, 1 month ago

Good letter. We need to take a good hard look at this oil drilling. Bahamians have a lot to lose if things go wrong. As if, it hasn't happened before. BPC needs to take a hike.

Voltaire 4 years, 1 month ago

BPC will be MADE to take a hike if they do not cease and desist. A judicial review of their farce of an approvals process is coming...

ColumbusPillow 4 years, 1 month ago

Many of BPC's shareholders are Bahamian
fossil fuels are the only economical and environmental choice
No significant sea level rise has been observed
Stop smoking is a good idea
Please skip repeating the climate warming/change scam
Please ask the people of Trinidad, Guyana, Jamaica, Cuba and Mexico if oil exploration is really such a bad idea. 7 relax

JokeyJack 4 years, 1 month ago

Oh, just a quick note, I heard some new satellite is being launched in December for the specific purpose of analyzing sea levels. Don't remember name or anything. Try to check it out. I feel we need more evidence, as per your point #3. It's all hype up to this point.

Porcupine 4 years, 1 month ago

Just type in "sea level rise" into your search engine. What planet are you living on Pillow? "Fossil fuels are the only economical and environmental choice"? Geez, are you that ignorant of both economics and environmental basics? Global warming is real. The oil companies have known what fossil fuels are doing to our climate for 45 years now, according to Exxon's own scientists. Yet you, Mr. or Mrs. Pillow, as an obvious shill for BPC, propose not to know this. Yet, you are going to suggest to these readers you have some wisdom, some knowledge? Sorry bud, you are fooling nobody, though you are using oil industry prescribed tactics such as sowing disinformation, trying to create confusion, denying the facts. Go away.

ColumbusPillow 4 years, 1 month ago

Hysteria is rampant in the Bahamas.

Voltaire 4 years ago

@ColombusPillow - BPC has a subsidiary called Columbus Energy Resources PLC. Funny coincidence hey?

Revolutionary 4 years, 1 month ago

"fossil fuels are the only economical and environmental choice"

Fossil fuels are environmental, are you on crack?

Can't believe these dumb people think for a second oil exploration will actually benefit Bahamians.

Porcupine 4 years, 1 month ago

Yes, it is a bit beyond unbelievable.

Proguing 4 years, 1 month ago

"Many of BPC's shareholders are Bahamian" not sure what is your point (but you sure sound like one), many drug dealers are Bahamian too

JokeyJack 4 years, 1 month ago

I must say I was impressed they came out last week and actually spoke to some of the details. It was revealed that 50% of proceed above $40/barrel would go to the Treasury. Finally we got some potential monetary figures.

However, as many of you know, the money going to "The Treasury" will not help any of us poor Bahamians. Unless the government agrees to a further split of its own 50% and give 50% of that to us directly via our NIB accounts, we will AS ALWAYS get nothing from foreign investment. The only thing we ever get on any foreign investment is a few security guard jobs and a few maid jobs. It was told to me that maids at a hotel in G.B. just a few short years ago were being paid $3 per room (yes, three dollars) and would only some days get 2 or 3 rooms each to do. When they take out bus fare, what were they left with? My calculator gave me an error when I tried to calculate it. I'm sure it gave them a tummy ache (from hunger pains).

Perhaps somehow we need to make foreign investors aware (prior to them signing any HOA) that we have NIB accounts and that they insist on some of their charity going there. Prayers. Some number of shakes for yes and wiggle for no?

Bahama7 4 years, 1 month ago

Voly & Porky Pie- have you been drinking?

Voly you pop up now and claim to be an expert. You are a fraud with no knowledge of the EIA process over many years.

You are IRRELEVANT in the grand scheme of things.

johnmcntsh 4 years, 1 month ago

It is easy to dream of oil riches. It is VERY VERY hard to achieve. Ask Mexico, (Pemex is bleeding the public dry) Ask Cuba, (Repsol keeps coming up empty lately) https://oilprice.com/Energy/Crude-Oil/M… Government officials and Pemex have refused to even answer investors questions anymore. https://www.cnbc.com/id/47948335 Do you know what you are asking for?

Voltaire 4 years, 1 month ago

AHA! The imperialists finally show their true colors! The Bahamian people are IRRELEVANT, are we Britain7? You, paid BPC apologist, have shown yourself to be exactly what we know you to be - an colonialist and exploiter! Please, keep sharing your true feelings.

gogo 4 years, 1 month ago

Some thinking, electricity comes out of the socket!??? Onshore the Bahamas there ist millions of barrels stored in tanks. Not dangerous? Thousands of ships go through bahamian waters every month. Not dangerous? If there would any small or larger spill, this would only affect cuban shore! Has every body read about the EIA of BPC? Is there any well ever drilled in the world, where at the drill ship are advisers of the government, to control every task of the drill team? Sorry, but why are there just only two or three weeks before the well will be started, people on the scenery - are they looking for financial compensation from BPC, to give away there loud protests and lawyers requests??? And Bahamian debt reached 8.9 bilions, to go green costs a lot of money.

Voltaire 4 years, 1 month ago

The fact that there are existing dangers from oil means we should just go ahead and raise the danger level hundreds of times over? That's like saying because my children face a certain level of risk while playing outside, I might as well just throw them into incoming traffic. Utter, illogical nonsense. 2. A spill will not affect the Cuban sure. The fact that you BPC trolls can't even bother to learn how the Gulf Stream works is downright insulting. 3. Bahamians don't want anything from BPC but for them to back off and stop meddling in our country's future.

I’ve been reading this paper for years, it’s nice to see you pop up only this month.

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