November 14, 2003
Shelve Pipeline Plan
In a refreshingly responsible move, the ambassador for the environment is calling for the government to move "very slowly" before granting any energy company approval to construct a liquified natural gas pipeline to the United States.
Chairman of the Bahamas Environment Science and Technology Commission, Keod Smith, said on Thursday, "As primary advisor to The Bahamas Government on environmental issues, and as its mandated protector, I do not believe that this is the time for The Bahamas to engage in the kind of activities these companies are proposing."
Smith said there is no gazetted environmental policy or legislative regime that adequately addresses environmental protection and conservation, let alone how The Bahamas will govern LNG regasification plants.
"As I am in the process of advancing suggestions to the government as to the substance and format such policy and legislation should take, I am hopeful that the cabinet of The Bahamas will not proceed any further in determining whether these proposals will be approved," Mr. Smith said.
"While the actual science of regasifying LNG is doable, there is no evidence provided thus far, or known, which suggests that it is 100% safe to the natural environment or to man," he said.
He went on to say that cabinet had not made any decision about any of the proposals that have been submitted and would not do so until the public had an opportunity to give input into the matter.
Posted by admin at November 14, 2003 10:19 AM