Alliance For Change (AFC) Executive and former Head of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Dr Vincent Adams, is urging the Government to procure the services of technically competent experts in the geotechnical and hydrogeology fields to independently investigate the presence of an “oily” substance at Crane on the West Coast of Demerara, and the reported presence of toxic chemicals in the material used to maintain a main access road in Linden.
Addressing the issues at an AFC press conference on Friday, Dr. Adams expressed alarm that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is not in a position to investigate the environmental issues, in particular the one at Crane on the West Coast of Demerara, and is reportedly relying on ExxonMobil Guyana for help.
Earlier this week, residents of Crane reported that an “oily” substance has been oozing through the ground since the start of the month.
The EPA was called in, and together with the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) and ExxonMobil Guyana, visited the site, and took samples.
Dr Adams said it is unfortunate that the EPA is not equipped to independently investigate the issue.
“EPA said first of all they didn’t have the equipment to do the test, and they have to do a report and report it to Exxon and Exxon is on the site. So, is Exxon doing EPA’s job? Or do we need any more evidence to show that Exxon is basically running the EPA? This is grossly inappropriate? Totally inappropriate?” the former EPA Head questioned.
He said in the absence of the technical evidence as to the cause and source of the chemical, the Government should evacuate the affected residents, placing them in temporary homes, to facilitate sampling and testing by independent experts.
“Now, if it is indisputable, which it appears to be, that this oozing of oil is coming from the subsurface, why are they all pussyfooting around taking soil samples and talking about it coming from cooking and instead of start drilling boreholes to trace its origin underground,” Dr Adams said.
He said if the homes are located in close proximity of a gas station with underground storage tanks, it is possible that the substance could be coming from those stations. According to Dr. Adams, it is highly unlikely that the substance is coming in from offshore, or the recently built pipeline, which should be empty.
In the case of Linden, the Mayor and Town Council has expressed concern that the material used to maintain the Noitgedacht Access Road was contaminated with toxic chemicals from a mined out bauxite site and poses a serious health threat to residents of the town.
The former Deputy Mayor, Waynewright Bethune, who now sits as a councillor, has conducted his own sampling and analysis through the bauxite company – Bosai, and found there were toxic chemicals present.
Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill, recently visited Linden and committed to having a dust suppression system in place to reduce the presence of dust from the road in the atmosphere, even as he ordered more testing be done. But Dr Adams wants the EPA to release the results of all tests done on the road.
“We call upon Mr Edghill to show us or publish whatever sampling and analysis they have done and give us the results as to how they arrive at that conclusion. Because we know that the EPA doesn’t have that capability, so let him show us the evidence,” Dr Adams said.
Dr. Adams said in this case, the suppression system is not helpful, and the government should hire the experts to investigate the matter and put the requisite systems in place. (Svetlana Marshall)
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