Americas News
Former MP Says Bahamas Oil Operations are a 'Very Serious' Threat
A former member of Parliament says oil spills and industrial odours are a "very serious" threat to the Pinder's Point area of Grand Bahama island, news site Tribune 242 reports.
Maurice Moore's comments come after a small spill occurred in the area Sunday, the latest in a series of spills in recent years.
The Sunday event occurred while divers hired by the Bahamas Oil Refining Company (BORCO) were inspecting the site of a previous spill, and oil amounting to less than two gallons was dislodged, according to a statement from BORCO.
BORCO said emergency crews responded immediately and all oil was removed.
Moore said problems arising from BORCO's refinery and other industrial development represent a "very serious" threat to local residents and called for a relocation of people in the area.
"The government needs to demand of the people doing the refinery, and to a lesser extent the Power Company and Pharmachem that they make necessary provisions to move the people from this area," he said.
Moore said jet fuel and gasoline at BORCO's 21.6 million barrel storage facility are being stored close to people's homes.
"Naturally, you can't allow people to store gasoline in tanks within 100ft or 200ft of somebody's residence," he said.
"You can't expect people to be comfortable here anymore."
In recent months, a series of oil spills has led to calls for environment legislation in the Bahamas.
