Lighthouse Point, Eleuthera.
“The Bahamas deserves a full assessment of whether or not this project is a good deal for its people”
NASSAU, BAHAMAS Opponents of Disney’s Lighthouse Point development maintain that the company’s environmental impact assessment (EIA) has “major deficiencies”, stating that this nation deserves a full assessment of whether or not the project is a good deal for the Bahamian people.
The Stop Disney – Last Chance for Lighthouse Point Campaign which consists of reEarth, the Bahamas Reef Environmental Educational Foundation (BREEF), Save the Bays, Waterkeeper Bahamas, Waterkeeper Alliance and Friends of the Earth US has submitted is own review of Disney’s 551-page EIA for its proposed cruise ship port at Lighthouse Point on Eleuthera in The Bahamas.
Activists must pay $200k in security of costs in BPC case
A Supreme Court judge yesterday ruled that activists seeking a judicial review into the government’s decision to approve exploratory oil drilling in The Bahamas by Bahamas Petroleum Company (BPC) must pay security of costs in the sum of $200,000 within 30 days.
“I order that the applicants pay security of costs in the sum of $200,000 for BPC,” Justice Petra Hanna-Adderley ruled.
“Such security to be provided by cash, bond, or a letter of credit from a commercially licensed bank within The Bahamas within 30 days and not the 14 days as requested by BPC.
The Stena IceMAX drillship. (PHOTO: BPC VIDEO)
NASSAU, BAHAMAS As Bahamas Petroleum Company (BPC) continues to face strong opposition from local and US environmental groups, one of its financiers is now expressing “regret” over involvement in facilitating funding for the company’s offshore oil exploration activities.
Bahamas Petroleum Company‘s exploratory oil well, Perseverance #1, approximately 90 miles from Andros and 270 miles from Nassau.
Lombard Odier, a Swiss private bank, in a brief response to
Eyewitness News’ inquiries, said: “We regret this situation and are taking the necessary actions to address it. This investment decision was not aligned to our commitment to sustainability and our strategic investment framework.”
The Stena IceMAX drillship. (PHOTO: BPC VIDEO)
NASSAU, BAHAMAS Environmentalists who have been lobbying against exploratory oil drilling in Bahamian waters yesterday called it “distressing” and “concerning” that the government would move to establish the area surrounding Bahamas Petroleum Company’s (BPC) oil well as a safety zone and prohibited area.
On Monday, the government tabled the Petroleum (Operation of Facilities) (Safety Zone)(Regulations), 2020, which was made on December 24, 2020, establishing a safety zone 500 meters (m) around the facility and prohibiting certain activity in that zone.
Joseph Darville, the chairman of the non-profit organization Save The Bays.
Joe Darville, chairman of Save The Bays and Waterkeeper Bahamas, said while it is understandable that the area must be safeguarded from any unforeseen accident, the government must ensure that there is constant monitoring of the site for proper enforcement of environmental laws.
A Google Maps view of safety zone location Latitude 23°12’ 12.35N
Longitude 079°08’ 14.1 W.
NASSAU, BAHAMAS The government has tabled new regulations to the Petroleum Act, 2016, that establishes the area around the Bahamas Petroleum Company’s (BPC) exploratory oil well near Andros a safety zone and a prohibited area.
The Petroleum (Operation of Facilities) (Safety Zone)(Regulations), 2020, which was made on December 24, 2020, establishes a safety zone 500 meters (m) around the facility and prohibits certain activity in that zone.
BPC: “Perseverance #1 a potentially transformational exploration well.” The well is 90 miles from Andros, and approximately 270 miles from Nassau.
The schedule of the regulation identifies the location as “Cooper”, with a Latitude of 23°12′ 12.35N and a Longitude of 079° 08′ 14.1W