Finger in the wind
After suggesting in opposition he would support oil drilling with certain caveats, PM panders to populist view on controversial issue Dr. Hubert Minnis.
Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis’ declaration on Friday that he is “totally against” drilling for oil in Bahamian waters is decidedly stronger in tone than his previously stated position on the matter when he was in opposition.
“I am totally against drilling for oil in our waters, totally,” Minnis said. “I have said that before; that has not changed.”
Though we have no record of Minnis ever expressing enthusiastic support for Bahamas Petroleum Company’s (BPC) planned exercise, the Free National Movement leader had said in opposition, “In embarking on oil drilling, the only thing I ask is that proper regulations be in place.”
Here’s how a Davis administration would handle the oil drilling issue Leader of the Opposition Philip Davis.
While we might be getting mixed messages on what the Minnis administration’s policy position on oil drilling in Bahamian waters is, Opposition Leader Philip Brave Davis said his administration’s policy position on this critical issue would be clear.
Davis said if the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) assumes office, it would be supportive of drilling for oil in Bahamian waters if two key questions are positively answered: “My position would be first of all, I was part of the regime that transformed the archaic law as it relates to oil drilling and once the law is complied with, the question that I would ask myself is whether it could be done in a sustainable and environmentally friendly way; and if that answer is yes, the second question I would ask myself is if the arrangements that would be entered into with the developer, if that is going to have significant b
Opposition Leader Philip Brave Davis. (FILE PHOTO)
NASSAU, BAHAMAS Opposition Leader Philip Brave Davis said Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis should not blame the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) for a controversial oil drilling deal, but should instead “accept responsibility for his own decisions”.
Davis’ comments, made in a statement released Friday, follow the prime minister telling the media he remained “totally against” the spud of an exploratory well set to begin as early as Tuesday of this week.
On the sidelines of a Crown Land grant ceremony on Abaco, Minnis suggested he would have backed out of the deal with Bahamas Petroleum Company (BPC) “if we could have gotten out of it”.
Lewis says he doesn’t support oil drilling either Iram Lewis. FILE
While noting that he will never support anything that poses a risk to the Bahamian ecosystem, Minister of State for Disaster Preparedness Iram Lewis said yesterday he opposes oil drilling in The Bahamas because of the “catastrophic” and “detrimental” effects that a potential oil spill can have on The Bahamas.
“[A potential oil spill] is a major, major concern and that would be my main reason for objecting because of the possible threats,” Lewis told
The Nassau Guardian.
“I’m hearing that best practices are in place by the proposed investors, new technology. They have learned from previous oil spills but that doesn’t make me feel comfortable enough knowing that there are still threats out there.
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