Rodney Moncur’s Army of One

A misguided crusade

What war is Rodney Moncur’s army of one fighting?

BY JUAN McCARTNEY
Guardian Broadcast Editor
juan@nasguard.com

Last week, three people died in a horrifying accident on Mayaguana, Bahamas Electricity Corporation workers tussled with police, armed hooligans invaded homes practically unchecked and we learned that the country’s gross domestic product didn’t grow as much as was forecasted last year.

But don’t let any of that, or growing allegations of police brutality, distract you from the carnival-barking sideshow brought to you courtesy of Rodney Moncur over the past several days.

As major developments unfolded throughout the country, Moncur became the cause de jour for many Bahamians on social media after he was charged with committing an indecent act for posting photos of Jamie Smith’s dead body on his Facebook page.

Smith was one of two men who died in police custody within hours of each other at separate locations on New Providence in February.

Moncur’s Facebook page is fashioned somewhat like a news blog.

Despite the fact that it is replete with inaccurate information, many Bahamians swallow it hook, line and sinker and spread his posts as genuine articles.

Moncur perhaps tested the patience of police when a photo of him standing next to Smith’s corpse as it lay on a preparation table at a local mortuary was published on his Facebook page several weeks ago.

However, over the holiday weekend, another photo of Smith’s corpse appeared on Moncur’s Facebook page.

This one, that showed Smith vivisection and other autopsy scars as his tongue lolled inside his open jaw, was particularly disturbing.

Smith’s family members, who have denied Moncur’s assertion that he is related to them, asked Moncur to take the pictures down.

He did not.

That picture, and another that showed the bruised buttocks of another man who claimed police beat him, apparently ticked off the police enough for them to arrest Moncur.

After his release that same day, Moncur wrote about it in great detail on his Facebook page.

He was arrested again and charged days later.

Other than once again directing attention to himself, it is unclear what Moncur was attempting to do by posting pictures of Smith’s body, as the Coroner’s Court is scheduled to hear the matter this month.

Moncur’s arraignment, his failure to make bail on Thursday and his posting bail on Friday, all made headline news.

Not so much because anything Moncur did was particularly noble, but because his shenanigans often generate public discourse, and a lot of it.

That Moncur, who subscribes to no journalistic standard, would use pictures of a dead man against the wishes of his family to aggrandize himself should come as no surprise.

This is the man who claims that women who use birth control are not true Christians. This is the man who describes himself as the ‘secret leader’ of Haitians in The Bahamas (whatever that means).

This is the man who listed eight fruit trees and a dictionary as assets on his declaration form when he was a candidate in the 2012 general election.

And his bizarre behavior has been consistent only in the frequency with which he has changed positions since the Pindling era.

What surprised me was that the police would waste their time charging Moncur.

And it was equally surprising to see how enthralled people became with his ordeal.

More than 3,000 people followed the Facebook page ‘Free Rodney Moncur’, with some misguided folks comparing him to Nelson Mandela.

Many told me that Moncur’s arrest represents some bold power grab on the part of Police Commissioner Ellison Greenslade in his master plan to abolish our freedom of expression.

I’m unconvinced.

However, Greenslade himself didn’t help matters by speaking about how important it was to make sure people don’t abuse their social media privileges.

And with the number of armed robberies and home invasions on the rise here in New Providence, many also rightly questioned the Police Force’s priorities.

Moncur has promised not to relent in the face of the charge.

Knowing him, this certainly won’t be the last we hear from him on this and many other issues.

April 08, 2013

thenassauguardian

The Coalition to Protect Clifton Bay Debates the Issues surrounding the Clifton Heritage Site

Clifton Coalition Debate Issues

Tribune242



MEMBERS of the newly formed Coalition to Protect Clifton Bay took to the airwaves to share their agenda and clarify some of the “thorny issues” surrounding the heritage site.

 

They described the threats to Clifton Bay as “extraordinarily catastrophic” and emphasised that the passage of an Environmental Protection and Freedom of Information Act were essential to protecting the marine heritage of the area, and the Bahamas as a whole.

 

The two Bahamian attorneys, Fred Smith and Romauld Ferreira, are both noted for their strong contributions to environmental consultation and advocacy – Mr Smith for more than 35 years and Mr Ferreira for more than 20.

 

Mr Smith’s environmental work includes the formation of environmental lobbies on several islands, including the Grand Bahama, Bimini, Abaco.

 

He also mounted ground-breaking litigation on environmental issues, in particular “Save Guana Cay”, starting at the Supreme Court all the way to the Privy Council on behalf of grass roots organisations.

 

In the most recent battle, Abaco Cares and Responsible Development For Abaco stopped the use of the toxic Bunker C fuel at the new Wilson City power plant erected by Bahamas Electricity Corporation in Abaco.

 

Mr Ferreira, who is an ecologist as well, has been heavily involved with environmental research and the preparation of environmental impact assessments.

 

Speaking on a Love97 FM radio show, Mr Smith called for unity among Bahamians and, as a political priority for the Coalition, the passage of environmental legislation.

 

“The environment has been a priority item both for the FNM and the PLP in their election manifestos. It’s time to push for an Environmental Protection Act. It is one of the priorities of the Coalition. A second priority is to push for the establishment of a marine park,” Smith said.

“The Coalition will promote positive steps towards marrying the land and sea in one park which can be enjoyed for future generations by so many Bahamians who live in New Providence and, of course, the millions of guests that come to visit us.”

 

The Freeport attorney went on to explain the unique natural resources that are to be found in Clifton Bay and its environs.

 

“At the start of Clifton Bay is what Stuart Cove, one of our members, described as a seven-mile reef. It’s one of the most beautiful barrier reefs that the Bahamas has and the Coalition is devoted to saving that reef and other areas of Clifton Bay for the many opportunities they present for eco-tourism.”

 

As expected from recent media articles on the subject, the issue of Nygard Cay/Simms Point came to the fore.

 

“There is also the issue of the Nygard Cay/Simms Point area, which I know has been very controversial of late,” Smith said.

 

He noted that there have been claims of reclamation of land without permits.

 

Mr Smith admitted that he is not sure whether or not permits exist, but said either way, there are concerns that the structures recently built in the area may affect the seabed and the flow of sand into the rest of Clifton Bay.

 

He added: “Importantly, the Coalition is also promoting a Freedom of Information Act. Throughout the civilised world… a FOI goes hand-in-hand with environmental protection. The one without the other often disadvantages any grass-roots organisations or environmental NGOs that wish to take issue with development or the programmes that are potentially negatively affecting the environment.”

 

Smith also identified oil spills in Clifton Bay and on Clifton Cay as an area of great concern for the Coalition.

“Of particular importance to many who run the Coalition is the oil situation. I myself have dived there a few times recently and the oil leakage through the ground directly into the water at Clifton Bay is extraordinarily catastrophic. I just don’t know how Nassauvians have put with the extent of the oil pollution. It’s everywhere. It’s floating on the top of the sea.

 

“There are the brown particulates that are used to try to soak it up. There are soap and suds everywhere. It’s an eyesore, as well as a hazardous toxic waste situation and this, of course, is also happening in Freeport.”

 

Show host Wendell Jones challenged the Coalition’s focus on Clifton Bay.

 

“I hear you emphasising Clifton, but… there have been many other areas of the Bahamas other than Clifton that have been disturbed, but your committee really is focusing on Clifton Bay,” he said.

 

But Mr Ferreira called the area “a microcosm of the unique environments” of the Bahamas and the developmental pressures weighing on them.

 

“Clifton Bay is very special because it has all of the unique ecosystems that make the Bahamas. It has diverse development and use challenges.

 

“So, at Clifton, you not only have the 7-mile reef; on the other side you have the Tongue of the Ocean, you have the recreational tourism activities, you have industrial activities, you have residential homes, you have the historic site.

 

“Then you have the development pressure that’s being applied against a backdrop of little or no regulations. And so, here you have a microcosm of what challenges the entire country.

 

“Because, if we are successful in dealing with the issues at Clifton Bay it has very helpful ramifications and wider implications which are tremendous for the rest of the Bahamas.”

 

April 05, 2013

 

Tribune 242

 

Caribbean Blog International

 

Perry Christie’s lack of transparency on certain issues is as murky and as dense as an oil slick... ...When did he become a consultant to Bahamas Petroleum Company (BPC)? ...How much was he paid? ...How often did they consult with him?

Perry Christie’s oil slick

Front Porch

BY SIMON

Referring to their twin island-nation’s oil wealth, some Trinidadians and Tobagonians liked to brag, “oil don’t spoil”.  It may not spoil in the ground.  But the potential to spoil rotten, some politicians, public officials and others is legend.

Speaking ahead of the gambling referendum in January, Bahamas Faith Ministries International President Dr. Myles Munroe sounded this dire warning: “Any government pressured by a small lobby group such as the gaming bosses will inevitably produce corruption.  And if this referendum goes through we will never have a pure government again.”

Bahamaislandsinfo.com further reported: “He [Dr. Munroe] also stated that the motivation of the referendum of the governing authority seems to be the surrender to the powers with money.  In other words he said that the government cannot rightly govern because they will owe allegiance to the few and not to the citizenry or the people of The Bahamas.”

The pastor’s warning is noteworthy.  The nature and role of leadership have been central themes of Dr. Munroe’s ministry.  The quality of leadership at various levels of society will be pivotal in the debate on oil exploration.

For its part, the Bahamas Christian Council has gotten off to a poor start.  The council’s economic committee chairman Rev. Patrick Paul specified the type of arrangement he thought best to distribute the proceeds of oil wealth, calling a supposed arrangement “categorically unjust, injurious and unfair to the democracy of our nation”.

God bless Paul.  But, he seems like a potential groom planning for a joint bank account and mortgage with a woman whom he hasn’t even asked to marry him.  The reverend has gotten things in the wrong order.

A prior question is whether there should be drilling in the first place, which is what then Opposition Leader Perry Christie solemnly promised the Bahamian people his government would ask in a referendum.  He has spectacularly reneged on his promise.

Calculated flip-flop

Christie’s latest calculated flip-flop clarifies the quality of political leadership the country needs in considering oil exploration.  Good governance and good leadership on this issue will require leaders of great prudence and profound judgement.

Christie has exhibited a stunning lack of prudence and extremely poor judgement on the matter of oil exploration.  With the disclosure of his work for Bahamas Petroleum Company (BPC), Christie, seemingly caught off guard, listed some of his duties as a consultant for the company.

“If there is an issue they need advice on, whether or not they need someone to speak to the issue of environmental impact [studies], the issue of whether or not in my judgment a matter is worthy for the government to approve, whether or not an application is ready, whether or not they should employ and who go on the board of directors, whatever views they ask of the firm regards it as necessary, they would consult me on it.  Those are the services I provide,” he said.

This is more than the work of an attorney.  His duties appear political and operational.  He would be considered a lobbyist in some jurisdictions.  Further, what did he mean by, “whether or not in my judgment a matter is worthy for the government to approve”?

If there are clear guidelines, it is not up to anyone’s judgment, including Christie’s, as to whether a matter “is worthy for the government to approve”.  Such murkiness is worrisome in what should be a highly regulated field.  Is Christie also following this approach as prime minister?

During last year’s general election campaign, former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham noted: “When Mr. Christie agreed to become a consultant for the company [BPC] it would have been with the full knowledge and intention of using his position, past and present, and his access to government agencies, whether as government or as former government, to influence a decision by the Bahamian government with respect to any application by that company.”

Stringent guidelines

In quite a number of democracies there are stringent guidelines to limit the revolving door and conflicts of interest of politicians and public officials moving in and out of government, potentially using their public positions to benefit private clients.  One key measure includes a waiting period before one can work as a consultant or lobbyist for various clients.

Christie’s revolving door seems like a turbocharged merry-go-round: Between 2002 and 2007, his government issued certain licences to BPC.  Out of office he became a consultant to BPC.  Now back in office, his government has issued an exploration license to BPC, while delaying his promise to hold a referendum on oil drilling.

Christie’s lack of transparency on certain issues is as murky and as dense as an oil slick.  When did he become a consultant to BPC?  How much was he paid?  How often did they consult with him?

In addition to the prime minister, neither Deputy Prime Minister Philip Davis, whose law firm represented BPC, nor Senator Jerome Gomez have been transparent or forthcoming with their compensation terms and arrangements with BPC.

By his own admission, Christie was a general consultant to a corporation wanting to drill for oil in The Bahamas while he was in Parliament, while he held the position of leader of the opposition, and while he fully expected to again become prime minister.

Further, did Christie express that he expected to be paid handsomely for his advice?  And, how handsomely was he paid.  The Bahamian people have a need to know?

Essentially, Christie advised his clients on how to go about achieving their ultimate objective – which is to drill for oil in The Bahamas.  And it was not just legal advice, it was advice on environmental issues, preparation for government approval, who to employ, who to put on the board of directors, and a catchall “whatever views they ask of the firm”.

In light of all of this, we are expected to believe that the prime minister has an open mind on whether or not there should be oil drilling in The Bahamas?

Christie’s clients were not some ordinary citizens requiring legal counsel who may have had sometime in the future a matter before the government of The Bahamas.  These were a corporation whose sole purpose for being in the country is to drill for oil.  Even if he did not become prime minister, as leader of the opposition, Christie knew that at some point he would have to address this issue in Parliament.

Christie himself must have recognized the position he was in when he and his government decided not to proceed with the promised referendum but to give the company the right to drill anyway.

Why on such a momentous national issue and stunning flip-flop did he not make the statement himself but left it to his minister for the environment?  Christie continues to abuse our trust.  And, he is more interested in putting the needs of foreigners first, instead of the Bahamian people.

By his own actions and admission, the prime minister has demonstrated that he and his government cannot be trusted on the momentous question of oil drilling.  His revolving door and flip-flopping constitute an oil slick that grows bigger and continues to spread.

• frontporchguardian@gmail.com, www.bahamapundit.com

April 04, 2013

thenassauguardian

Rodney Moncur arrested... ...released...

Rodney Moncur Tells Of Arrest

 

By KHRISNA VIRGIL
Tribune Staff Reporter
kvirgil@tribunemedia.net




RODNEY Moncur, human rights activist, says he is relieved to have not been a victim of police brutality – which he believes is common – after his arrest over the weekend.

Speaking with The Tribune yesterday, the former DNA hopeful said he was terrified of his well being after a senior Cyber Intelligence Unit officer took him into custody from his office at Market Street on Saturday morning.

According to Mr Moncur, authorities authorised his arrest after autopsy photographs of Jamie Smith, a man who died in police custody last month, and the buttocks of another man who claimed to have been beaten by police were posted on his Facebook page. The photos have since been removed, although Mr Moncur claimed to have no knowledge of how they were taken down.

Mr Moncur added that police accused him of “terrorising the nation and libelling the Royal Bahamas Police Force.” Police also believe that he broke into the Princess Margaret Hospital’s morgue sometime this month to take the pictures, Mr Moncur said.

“Every time that I was left alone in that room,” Mr Moncur said, “I prayed because just prior to him taking me in custody I was able to alert friends and colleagues that I was being taken.

“They held me for five hours and I did not eat. They offered me food and water but I did not take it because I was scared they would poison me.

“But I believe that somebody is being wicked. I wholelheartedly deny breaking into the morgue and I am too old to be breaking into PMH.”

Mr Mocur told The Tribune that had Police Commissioner Ellison Greenslade asked him to remove the photos he would have. He insisted that his arrest was unwarranted.

When contacted, Assistant Commissioner of Police Leon Bethel, said he was not able to speak on the matter after being posted at the CARIFTA games all weekend.

April 02, 2013

Tribune 242

Caribbean Blog International

Philip Dunkley: ...The Lyford Cay Property Association is "likely" to become a member of the Coalition to Protect Clifton Bay - (CPCB) ... ... As the government appears "inclined" to grant Peter Nygard a lease of accreted land surrounding his property at Nygard Cay ... ...Clifton Cay could be affected

Lyford Cay ‘likely’ to support coalition

JEFFREY TODD
Guardian Business Editor
jeffrey@nasguard.com

The Lyford Cay Property Association is "likely" to become a member of the Coalition to Protect Clifton Bay (CPCB).

As exclusively revealed by Guardian Business in February, the association announced that the government appears "inclined" to grant Peter Nygard a lease of accreted land surrounding his property at Nygard Cay. It now seems that members of the community have taken their opposition to the next level.

"I think it is likely we will become a member. The environmental issues effect Clifton and our community," said Philip Dunkley, head of Lyford Cay Property Association.

"We have looked at everything they have put together. It seems like something we should support."

Support for the coalition is also forming in other property circles.

Franon Wilson, president of the Bahamas Real Estate Association (BREA), said he did not wish to comment specifically on Nygard's case.

However, speaking in general terms, anyone that expands property beyond what was legitimately paid for should be kept in check by both the private and public sector.

"The bottom line is people should go out and inspect. If you go past a certain point and expand beyond your bounders, then that has implications," Wilson told Guardian Business. "There are things you can and can't do. And that is one of the things you can't do."

Back in February, a letter to members of the Lyford Cay Property Association stated that the government “may be inclined to accede to Mr Nygard's application” in the near future.

It went on to note that government indicated it would become more vigilant to prevent any future reclamation of lands.

The issue has been in and out of the courts in recent years.

According to a statement of claim filed in the Supreme Court on April 6, 2011, Tex Turnquest, then director of the Department of Lands and Surveys, informed Nygard that the government expected him to reinstate the coastline of the property to its condition at the time of the 1984 deed, when he first purchased the western tip of Lyford Cay.

Nygard's attorneys have argued, however, that additional land formed as a result of the gradual and imperceptible deposit of materials from the ocean onto land.

The fashion mogul sought a declaration that the lands have become part of the freehold property.

Recent statements by the Lyford Cay Property Association could indicate that the issue is swinging in Nygard's favor.

The coalition, however, appears ready for a fight.

"You can be sure the coalition will be active," Dunkley added.

Fred Smith, a top attorney with Callenders & Co, has joined forces with the coalition for legal support. The alliance could indicate that the coalition is prepared to fight any ruling on the property.

Dunkley pointed out that the Nygard issue is not the only problem for Clifton Bay. The Bahamas Electricity Corporation has long been criticized for poor environmental standards at one of its main power plants in the area.

From the air, a sheen of oil can reportedly be seen on most days along the coast and heading out to sea.

In a recent trip to The Bahamas, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. threw his support behind the coalition as it relates to the pollution coming out of Clifton Pier and its destruction to the reef system.

March 29, 2013

thenassauguardian

Caribbean Blog International

The Bahamas is in critical and dire need of an Environmental Protection Act

Bahamas In 'Critical And Dire' Need Of Environmental Protection Act

BY FREDERICK R. M. SMITH, Q.C.


THE Bahamas is in critical and dire need of an Environmental Protection Act. This legislation has been promised in the past by both the FNM and PLP governments.

As The Bahamas broadens its industrial investment profile; encourages large scale urban development; promotes all inclusive anchor projects by Bahamians and foreigners and continues its growth and development, it becomes more and more urgent for an independent regulatory body with teeth, to protect our often pristine, and always fragile environment.

The Bahamas, as a Small Island Nation, must make protecting the environment a priority. It is also important that stakeholders and interested parties who may be affected by industrial and/or other urban developments have an opportunity to be properly consulted. This has been repeatedly affirmed by our Supreme Court, Court of Appeal and Privy Council in the Guana Cay and Abaco Wilson City Power Plant litigation.

The BEST Commission has been established for years but it is not a statutory body and needs to be institutionally created by legislation to make it effective and relevant.

There is limited space for growth and development throughout our archipelago of islands and best environmental practices also need to be observed in crowded islands such as New Providence where industrial and urban growth is booming.

The Planning and Subdivision Act was a great step in providing an opportunity for stakeholders to be consulted and participate in developments before they occur and the requirement for environmental impact assessments in that legislation is to be commended.

However, without a corresponding Environmental Protection Act and the establishment of a statutory process for the conduct of EIA’s, it will create confusion and litigation; more importantly expectations all around will be disappointed.

Further, the need to implement a health and safety committee under the Health and Safety at Work Act is important to protect the public and workers’ rights, in particular at industrial plants.

This inevitably leads us to the issue of Freeport being the “Industrial Capital” of The Bahamas.

The need for environmental, health and safety at work legislation, with teeth, is even more important as thousands of Bahamian workers and upwards of 60,000 Bahamian residents, are exposed to industrial hazards, toxic wastes and other environmental dangers moreso than in the rest of the Bahamas.

As there may be oil exploration in the Northern Bahama Banks, the Grand Bahama Shipyard grows, Burmah Oil (eastern GB), Borco and Focol expand, other hydrocarbon related industrial facilities are born and developed in Freeport, and urban growth continues, the need for regulating, policing and enforcing environmental protection is acute and critical.

Given the existence of the Hawksbill Creek Agreement there is an issue as to whether Central Government and/or the Grand Bahama Port Authority has jurisdiction over environmental and developmental matters in Freeport and/or whether each of them may in different ways share jurisdiction, which may in addition be overlapping.

I commend the Minister of Transport and Aviation, Mrs. Glenys Hanna-Martin for her commitment to a fearless and transparent investigation into the recent and repeating oil spills in Freeport. The recent oil spills highlight need for environmental legislation.

In addition, I urge Minister Shane Gibson, Minister of Labour and National Insurance, to continue his efforts in developing the Regulations and then to appoint a Health and Safety Committee under the Health and Safety at Work Act in Freeport to protect workers.

Such legislation would ensure that those responsible for any damage to the environment and for any injuries to workers and the public would be held financially accountable and could be made to clean up any damage subject to fines and/or penalties of a criminal nature.

Make no mistake about this, damage to the environment is a crime against nature. We are only hurting ourselves if we ignore it!

The Grand Bahama Port Authority is responsible under Clause 13 of the 1965 amendment of the Hawksbill Creek Agreement to protect the environment and health and safety of workers and residents in Freeport.

Some years ago a very comprehensive set of proposed environmental and health and safety bye laws under the Freeport Bye-Laws Act was submitted by the Grand Bahama Port Authority to the Government, but have not been implemented.

They need to be brought into effect! The people of Freeport deserve a clean and managed environment and the workers at the industrial plants of Freeport are entitled to the protection of their health and safety rights!

As a 33-year homeowner of Freeport and a licensee of the GBPA I urge the GBPA and Government to work closely together to implement these bye laws so that the GBPA can effectively undertake its duties, responsibilities and obligations under the Hawksbill Creek Agreement.

The GBPA has already established an Environmental Department but again, like the BEST Commission, it has no statutory teeth.

Under the Freeport Act 1993, the Government, the Grand Bahama Development Company (Devco) and the GBPA agreed to “Introduce additional environment frameworks for development”.

It is high time that this provision under the Act was put into effect.

It is high time that the Government and the GBPA make good on their promises to protect the environment and the health and safety of workers and put in place the necessary laws and regulations.

Window dressing will no longer cut it.

Tribune 242

Since the Bahamian government’s recent announcement that exploratory oil drilling would be allowed prior to a referendum on the issue ...controversy has erupted along several fronts

The great oil debate

To drill or not to drill is the question

BY JUAN McCARTNEY
Guardian Senior Reporter
juan@nasguard.com

If Bahamas Petroleum Company’s (BPC) calculations are correct, there is a super-giant oil field lying beneath Bahamian waters.

All that needs to be done to get the nearly nine billion barrels of oil it believes is likely there, is to figure out exactly where it is, and go get it without spilling a single drop in the ocean.

If only life were that simple.

Since the government’s recent announcement that exploratory oil drilling would be allowed prior to a referendum on the issue, controversy has erupted along several fronts.

The referendum issue

Perhaps having had its reputation savaged in the gambling referendum in January, the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) had no wish to risk another fiasco and so opted to take a different route – see if any significant amount of oil is there, and then see how the Bahamian people feel about taking it out of the ground.

BPC maintains it will spud an exploratory well around this time next year, and the government says it will hold a referendum on the actual extraction of any oil in the latter part of 2015.

Yes, the PLP backtracked on its original promise, but is this not a considered, logical position to take in light of the fact that Russian companies are drilling for oil just miles away from our border with Cuba?

Not really, says Free National Movement Chairman Darron Cash.

In fact, Cash contends, it all seems a bit rushed.

“Given the national and international attention that the government knew this matter would receive, the minister of the environment (Ken Dorsett) should not have announced the government’s policy reversal until the proposed legislative changes and the regulatory framework could be disclosed at the same time. It is not constructive to the process that the debate has begun in earnest but there is an information vacuum,” he said last week.

“There is no information packet available, no statement of Government principles, no answers to frequently asked or anticipated questions, no secretariat and no readily available environmental impact studies.”

Cash, who may or may not be familiar with the Internet, is wrong that no environmental impact assessment has been made public.

It’s been out for a year, and the Bahamas Environment, Science and Technology (BEST) Commission has it on the front page of its website.

It’s over 400 pages long and extraordinarily detailed, but more about that later.

Cash is right however, about the lack of regulations and legislation being in place.

According to a letter BEST wrote to BPC Environmental Scientist Roberta Quant on February 15, 2012, there are no specific standards for gas and oil exploration in The Bahamas.

BEST deferred establishing those standards until widespread national consultation and a required regulatory review takes place.

Last week, Dorsett said new regulations to support oil exploration "are substantially complete" and will soon be presented to Cabinet.

It is expected that they would be tabled and debated in Parliament before ultimately going into effect before BPC begins its exploration.

That would be quite a step beyond where the Christie administration was willing to go with regard to the gambling referendum.

In the run-up to that debacle, Bahamians were simply expected to trust the government and the numbers houses’ good intentions with little detail.

Hopefully, Cabinet won’t make that mistake again.

Show me the money

Possibly years away from seeing any oil, Bahamians last week flooded talk shows and social media with the concern that somehow The Bahamas was getting the short end of the stick with regard to oil royalties.

That depends on how you look at it. According to the proposed production license, the royalties paid to the government increase on a sliding scale.

If up to 75,000 barrels of oil are produced per day (bopd), then the royalty rate would be 12.5 percent.

For oil production over 75,000 up to 150,000 bopd, the royalty rate would be 15 percent.

For oil production over 150,000 bopd up to 250,000 bopd, the royalty rate would be 17.5 percent.

For oil production over 250,000 bopd up to 350,000 bopd, the royalty rate would be 20 percent.

For oil production in excess of 350,000 bopd, the royalty rate would be 25 percent.

The royalty rate on any amount of gas production would be 12.5 percent.

BPC has five licenses that cover an area of nearly four million acres in total.

It is also required to pay the government $0.92 per acre per year for its leases.

However, these payments are deductible from royalty payments.

BPC is also surely ecstatic that there is no corporate income tax in The Bahamas.

It is unclear how value added tax would impact oil drilling and or production.

The company has invested nearly $50 million so far; mostly in seismic research.

It says an exploratory drill would cost another $120 million.

It is unclear what The Bahamas has invested so far, but preliminary indicators suggest that the country has spent nothing on BPC’s venture.

That seems like a pretty good return on investment.

However, when you look at what other countries rake in in pre-tax oil revenues, what is proposed would pretty much make The Bahamas the lowest recipient outside of Ireland.

Environmental concerns

The thing most people seemed to be concerned about is an oil spill.

BPC’s research indicates that an oil spill taking place at the location where drilling will most likely take place would have “a major impact on the Cuban coastlines in the vicinity of the release point”.

“Particular wind conditions may allow for transport of small quantities of oil to the west, where it can eventually be advected by the Florida current and potentially affect the Florida or eastern U.S. coasts, or the Western Bahama Islands.

“In case of a seabed spill, it is expected that some oil will surface at a distance from the initial spill due to intense deep dynamics along the Great Bahama Bank. This would favor a wide spread of oil, with possible impact further on the Cuban coast, but also on the Florida or Eastern U.S. coasts, or the Western Bahama Islands.”

BPC’s political ties

Though the PLP tries to downplay it, there is no getting around the fact that Prime Minister Perry Christie, Deputy Prime Minister Philip Brave Davis and Senator Jerome Gomez were all closely linked to BPC prior to the general election.

Davis was its lawyer, Christie a consultant and Gomez the resident director.

All three men have since said they no longer have ties to the company.

But that hasn’t stopped the FNM from asking serious questions.

The Opposition has asked for full disclosure. Davis has expressed annoyance at the line of questioning and pledged to act in the best interest of the Bahamian people.

Gomez addressed the issue last week, though both men stopped short of full disclosure.

Christie said he will address the matter in the House of Assembly today.

Whether there is oil underneath the sea remains to be seen, but what seems clear is that the great oil debate is just getting started.

March 18, 2013

thenassauguardian

Caribbean Blog International