Justice Petra Hanna-Adderley today refused an application to stay oil drilling pending a judicial review, but granted leave for a group of environmentalists to bring judicial review proceedings against the government’s decisions to authorize the drilling by Bahamas Petroleum Company (BPC).
As she delivered her ruling, Hanna-Adderley said she accepted the arguments of the government’s lead attorney, Aidan Casey, who contended that ordering a stay would carry real risks.
“Further, as all parties have agreed that this exercise is of great public importance albeit for different reasons,” Hanna-Adderley said.
“I do not accept the counsel of the applicants’ submission that the respondent and BPC, would suffer no prejudice if such a stay were granted.”
Fred Smith, QC, who represents the environmental groups, in his argument, contended that the issue at hand is whether the exploratory oil drilling exercise now underway by BPC was lawful and whether the process of licenses being granted by government included all of the steps required by law, including the issuance of permits as well as proper consultation.
The Stena IceMAX has already commenced drilling, according to BPC, and is located 90 miles west of Andros.
BPC said it is targeting oil resources of .77 billion barrels with an upside of 1.44 billion barrels.
The judicial review hearing is set for February 17 and 18.
The post BPC can continue drilling, but judge grants leave for judicial review appeared first on The Nassau Guardian.
source https://thenassauguardian.com/bpc-can-continue-drilling-but-judge-grants-leave-for-judicial-review/
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