Who are the real players in the oil companies?
The oil concessions on the seas have been rejected by APAMO, the umbrella organization for the environmental community. On May twelfth, Citizens Organized for Liberty Through Action (COLA) also wrote a letter to the Prime Minister illustrating the effects of oil spills from the United States all the way to Australia. It was a lengthy and pointed letter, and on May fourteenth, the prime minister replied in a pointed albeit extremely short letter of his own. In fact it was only three sentences long, maybe four, if you include the thank you. It said “I note that, despite the current crisis in the Gulf o Mexico, a recent poll showed that a majority of citizens in the US still favour offshore oil exploration. I imagine you speak for COLA, and do not presume to speak for the majority of Belizeans, when you make your ‘Demands.’ Nonetheless, your points are worthy of consideration. In doing the usual balancing act between development needs and the requirement to protect the environment (and looking at things as well in the context of signed contracts), government will bear well in mind what you have said.” If you recall, PM Dean Barrow’s law partner in Barrow and Williams, Rodwell Williams, is the secretary for Princess Petroleum, one of the companies that has been given a concession to drill for oil in the sea. OCEANA has been doing some drilling of its own at the Companies Registry to find the real stake holders behind the other companies. Matura Shepherd gave us an update on one of the companies.
Jose Sanchez
“The history of the companies, have you been able to find out anything?”
Audrey Matura Shepherd, Vice President, OCEANA Belize
“I’m still in the process of trying to do all the links. I do see some things that have cause some red flag. But I don’t want to say yet prematurely because I want to have everything on hand. I know for one of the ones we can look at immediately, one of the problems we are having is that the map for geology says there is a Sol Oil Belize Limited. And our company registry only has Sol Belize Limited. We don’t want to make a mistake because this SOL Belize Limited that we know about was formerly Shell. And we wouldn’t want to be calling SOL as though it is them, if they are not the ones who are a part of this offshore operation that is being proposed. So we have to be very careful. I’m not sure yet but we want to confirm. I know generally at the company registry they would not allow any company to have any similar name. So we wouldn’t be able to find a SOL Belize Limited and a SOL Oil Belize Limited. So Sol Oil Belize Limited could be an international company and it could be affiliated to this Sol Limited. And if it is, remember the UNESCO Representative made a very important point which is that these major oil corporations have an understanding, a commitment or an agreement, whatever you want to call it, with UNESCO, that they will never operate in World Heritage Sites and those agreements are very important for the good reputation of those companies.”
Dean Barrow knew all along that this was just the right time for him to become Prime Minister of Belize. He could see the legal and illegal oil money flowing a mile away. Those 3 million dollars in assets are surely multiplying.
we must consider a few things do Mr. Prime Minister! Who will reap the benefits off this oil? how much are the Belizean people going to get, as in what percentage of the overall money made from the oil is going to go back to Belize and how much does the oil company keep? Are we going to audit the oil companies to see exactly what they are making, and can we also get an audit from GOB to see how they are using this money?
What are the environmental implications and will they set any measure in place to prevent a spill near our very fragile reef???
I predict that if you were asked any of these questions you would not answer them directly and you would dance around the topic without even telling us what we want to hear… a simple yes or no answer
Well said Prime Minister. What a beautiful response. I think these so called environmentalists organization should pause a moment and do some critical thinking or come up with a game plan on how best to address this issue and sensitize stakeholders. …. Oil exploration is here to stay…deal with it. Leave the monitoring and regulating of the industry practices to the experts please. Audrey, please, don’t make a mockery of yourself by opening your mouth each time a camera is infront of you. See what happen to Phillip Willoughby…85% of the time he made no sense. Your heading in that same direction. By the way, feel free to contact the Geology and Petroleum Dept if you wish to know more about SOL Oil. FYI..SOL is simply an abbreviation for the name of the Company.
Barrow is refering to an American Poll. Where is the Belezean Poll?????????? What to Belizeans want???? The oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico is a crime against the planet and humanity because of GREED. Will we in Belize sell or future for a few to get rich??? Who REALLY benefits from Spanish Lookout???
@TheRealDean: I agree that the PM’s response had some wittiness to it but it still smacks of a little arrogance. Yes Oil exploration may be here to stay, at least while the Oil prices make it sensible to do so, but does that mean we drill for Oil despite the damage it does to our beautiful country? Are we sure there is such a mother lode of oil that it’s worth the risk of defiling the environment? In my opinion it could only be worthy of consideration if the amount would have a hope of funding our society to another level of wellbeing by uplifting the lives of all, and that there would some hope it would come to pass without the profits being siphoned off into only private hands. It would appear it has already failed part of this test. The PM and others should exercise something very rare Belize, Integrity. While at it, he and the others in Government can start practicing fidelity. He can demonstrate Fidelity to the people of Belize, the country, and her environment by asking himself a question every time he is about to make a decision on the behalf of us Belizeans. Is it in the best interest of the Belizean People? Those folks in Geology and Petroleum, with whom you seem quite familiar, may also consider practicing integrity and fidelity. Foreigners laugh at us when we give away so much for so little, our judgement clouded by the unfortunate limitations of our person context and perspective, always with one hand out and ready to deny our own for a pittance. Remember, my fellow Belizeans, next time it might be you!
as usual money talks….and something..whatever it is…walks…i pray this world ends soon so we can live in paradise earth rather than the one Barrow is wrecking..i’m ready for it to go away
I just hope Audrey very careful because sometimes these oil companies do not like people telling their stuff (jus my assumption) I think govt should tell Belizeans what is going on who is and where they drilling for oil or minerals why? cos they promise transparency…oh and what Belize survey they referring to?
@cg: I must respectfully ask you to seek help for these delusional end of world desires; How about we think of the ways we can effect paradise right here, right now? Lets start taking responsibility for our part in all this mess. Want a Red Pill?
@ang: I agree with you because introduction and enforcement of transparency in all activities concerning the people is a key ingredient to our recovery; But alas, transparency strips away the rotten boards and shines a light on the roaches and decay; it denudes those that betray us of their cloaks of respectibility and forces us all to stare in the mirror; those of us that play the game may realize that at some level we are all part of this problem and there in lies the rub.
It is unfortunate that anyone should have to worry about being careful for speaking out.
How can we get a recall law on the books? It would allow the Belizean people to recall/fire any politician at all levels and certain key senior civil servants. My fellow Belizeans the next time it could be you!