Opposition Leader Aubrey Norton is of the view that the move by the Government to approach the Caribbean Court of Justice to effectively block an order mandating oil company ExxonMobil to provide a guarantee that it will cover the full cost in case of an oil spill here, is wrong.

High Court Judge, Sandil Kissoon has ordered the Environmental Protection Agency last year to issue an enforcement notice to the ExxonMobil company for the guarantee to be provided.

Both the oil company and the EPA have appealed the ruling.  The Government was not allowed to join the matter at the time, but it has since moved to join the appeal at the level of the Caribbean Court of Justice.

Speaking during the Mark Benschop “Straight up” programme last evening, the Opposition Leader said the move by the Government to join the appeal shows that it has picked the side of the oil company over the interests of citizens.

“The Government should be protecting the interest of the people of Guyana and for them to challenge a decision that really was made in the interest of the people of Guyana, is a clear indication that the government has no interest of Guyana and what they want to do is to protect the elite in the PPP. I think all Guyana has arrived at the point where the believe that the People’s Progressive Party is not a government for the people,” Mr. Norton stated.

Mr. Norton said the question of an oil spill should not be downplayed, and therefore the Government must ensure that Guyana is secured, should one occur here. 

“The question of an oil spill has to be a question that is on the forefront on the minds of the Guyanese people. All the oil spill we have seen in the world, the major ones, have cost billions to clean up. Guyana without the capacity to do so, has to ensure that there is mechanism in place for the parent company guarantee that most Guyanese have been asking for,” Norton stated.

The Opposition Leader argues that the Guyana government is exposing Guyanese by challenging the case, noting that citizens must not be made to pay should an oil spill occur.

“It is not a case where you are asking them to put down the money, but what you are asking for is a document that legally commits ExxonMobil, the parent company to be responsible if an oil spill occur. So, an oil spill has to be catered for, “the Opposition Leader stated.

The Government has defended its move to join the appeal, by stating that the matter could have serious complications for Guyana.

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