A rift over the Ocean Cay LNG project appears to have split Perry Christie’s cabinet. The controversial plan to build a multi-million dollar liquefied natural gas regassification terminal has sparked intense debate within highranking government circles. At least two senior ministers have made it clear in Cabinet that they think the project would harm the tourism industry and endanger the environment, The Guardian understands.
Now Leslie Miller, from the pro-LNG camp, appears to have distanced himself from the project after saying last week that a heads of agreement could be signed as early as today.
“Ask Allyson Gibson. It has nothing to do with me,” the cabinet minister who has responsibility for LNG told The Guardian, when asked if the government would sign today. “I can only answer for me, so you will have to ask her because she is the government representative that went and made the announcement.”
Before Attorney General Allyson Maynard Gibson’s announcement, the government had given little indication whether it would approve the Virginia-based AES Corporation’s plans to build the LNG terminal and an ocean pipeline stretching to Florida. Last Tuesday, she announced during informal statements to selected sections of the media that Government was negotiating a heads of agreement with AES and would likely approve the deal in this electoral term. Mr Miller said twenty-four hours later that the deal would be signed as early as today.
While distancing himself from the project yesterday, Mr Miller, who is also agriculture and marine resources minister, said he had only cited today as a possible signing day on the condition that “all things are equal.”
The Guardian has been led to believe that Mrs Maynard Gibson’s announcement had surprised some cabinet ministers and created friction within the Christie administration.
This is the latest twist in what has always been a controversial and sometimes sketchy saga, over LNG and has spurred the resurgence of the once vigorous local lobby against the industry.
Sam Duncombe of the environmental lobby, reEarth, has called on the government to put the matter to a referendum. She has also questioned how Mr Miller can serve as marine resources minister and at the same time, be the minister responsible for the LNG, an industry which she insists, is harmful to the environment.
Mrs Duncombe says the government must take responsibility for approving the LNG project and not “try and lay this development at the feet of the FNM, because the PLP government is the government of the day.”
Said Mrs Gibson on Wednesday of the Christie government’s decision to approve LNG: “This administration was simply honouring the LNG policy that was put in place by the former administration, which gave agreements and principles to three LNG plants subject to criteria.”
AES has secured approvals from the Federal Regulatory Commission, the State of Florida and Broward County to supply the state with LNG through its proposed pipeline, but has battled for the last five years to get approval from The Bahamas Government.
Asked if a heads of agreement would be signed today, a senior government spokesman said: “I have no information.”
Meanwhile, when The Guardian contacted Mrs Maynard-Gibson yesterday, she claimed to be on another call and did not return a call before press time.
By RAYMOND KONGWA Guardian Senior Reporter
