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News : New Providence Last Updated: Feb 13, 2017 - 1:45:37 AM


PM called on to release Rubis leak review
By Save The Bays
Jul 21, 2016 - 9:35:48 AM

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Save The Bays: More than a year since the government promised them a full and frank explanation, Marathon residents are no closer to understanding why they were left in the dark about a dangerous toxic fuel spill in the center of their community.

Attorney General Allyson Maynard-Gibson, who first announced the review in May 2015, insists that only the person who conducted the investigation can speak to its results. But retired Justice Joseph Strachan, appointed to undertake the review, has also washed his hands of the matter, saying that “in due course, persons who are in a better position than I will speak to the release of the report”.

For Joseph Darville, chairman of leading environmental advocacy group Save The Bays (STB), the ongoing uncertainty surrounding this issue is totally unacceptable in light of the grave danger faced by that community.

“Rubis and our elected officials knew for more than two years that Marathon residents had potentially been exposed to very dangerous chemicals, but made no public announcement about the leak,” Darville said. “When the truth finally came out, the Attorney General apologized and promised a full explanation of her government’s actions. Instead of providing answers, officials have done nothing but sow further confusion.”

Darville said that if both Strachan and Maynard-Gibson refuse to bring some clarity to the matter, Prime Minister Perry Christie must step in and explain what has happened to the results of the review.

“Enough is enough – the public is tired of excuses. The buck stops with the Prime Minister and he must ensure that the residents of Marathon get the justice they deserve.

“I have been fighting for the victims of chemical pollution for more than four decades and have seen first-hand the terrible consequences –from respiratory problems and skin irritation, to birth defects and outbreaks of cancer.

“As principal of Grand Bahama Catholic High School, I fought to protect the health of my students from the communities of Pinder’s Point, Lewis Yard and Hawksbill in the face of heavy pollution from nearby industrial plants. Oil spills and chemical emissions continue to cause health issues and even deaths in that area to this day. Meanwhile, reports by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO) have been kept under wraps.

“In Marathon, as in Grand Bahama, it is the government’s job to protect the public and report such threats as they arise. Both these communities deserve to know why they were abandoned.”

Darville noted that in addition to the release of the review, Marathon residents are still waiting for follow-up medical tests, with many unable to get hold of their results from the first round of health screenings.

STB members have repeatedly spoken out in support of those affected by the leak, taking part in a silent protest in July 2015 outside the station. The chairman said the group will continue to fight for the rights of the victims of this leak and all others who are adversely affected by pollution, unregulated development and other environmental hazards.

“The government is sorely mistaken if it believes official silence will make the Rubis affair and others like it simply disappear. Save The Bays, its community partners, and concerned citizens across the length and breadth of The Bahamas will continue to fight to ensure that the truth, justice and the rule of law prevail for the people of Marathon.”



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