Andrew
Hart: Shell will 'act responsibly'
Nations
News
BARBADOS
Petroleumworld.com
06 18 06
MR
JAMES PAUL in a statement in the Press last week,
said that Shell Antilles & Guianas Ltd should
be asked to underwrite the cost of a proper environmental
clean-up of agricultural land at Gibbons Boggs,
Christ Church.
Mr
Paul was responding to a protest by some farmers
in that area.
As
the country chairman for the East Caribbean, I can
assure that Shell will act responsibly with respect
to the farmers as well as to the environment.
Shell
is committed to the protection of the farmer's livelihood,
and has ensured that actions continue to be taken
to ensure that no contaminated water is delivered
to the farmer's fields. This includes working with
the authorities to introduce alternative clean water
supplies into the irrigation system for the Gibbons
Boggs area.
We
also have an ongoing product recovery programme
in place, in order to clean the affected wells.
Shell
is also committed to the protection of the environment.
We have carried out investigations in the Gibbons
area, and contrary to the recent report carried
in the Press, results have indicated that the remaining
oil is not an imminent threat to the coastal zone.
Shell
has had continuous dialogue with the relevant authorities,
including the Coastal Zone Management Unit, to ensure
that they are all kept up to date on these matters.
This
aviation pipeline has been out of service since
the new Barbados National Terminal Company Ltd.
pipeline was commissioned earlier in 2006, and the
remaining product in the pipeline, and the Oistins
storage terminal, will be removed in the coming
weeks.
Shell
has submitted to the relevant authorities a proposal
for carrying out a final and comprehensive impact
study, and consequent remediation plan. We have
been awaiting approval of that plan, so that we
can proceed with its implementation.
We
understand and share the concerns of the farmers
and all of the other stakeholders in this matter,
but must act within the mandate given to us by the
relevant authorities.
–
ANDREW HART,
Shell's
Country Chairman for the East Caribbean
Nation
News
June
18, 2006
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