U.S. Capital Energy says SATIIM needs permission from forestry to access Temash

Media teams from across the country are currently in the deep-south on a SATIIM-hosted tour of the Sarstoon Temash National Park. That’s the intention, anyway. In recent days things have gotten decidedly testy between SATIIM, US Capital and the government. Last Friday, SATIIM rangers and Mayan leaders were involved in a standoff with PG Police while attempting to gain entry to the site of US Capital’s drilling pad. Indications are that further access to the area will be denied to SATIIM unless they receive proper authorization from the Forestry Department. That’s why at this point we’re not quite sure how the planned media tour has fared off because our crew is still incommunicado. But tonight, we start with an interview given to the media early this morning by Country Representative of U.S. Capital Alastair King. Mike Rudon has that story.

Mike Rudon, Reporting

The site of US Capital’s drilling pad has been declared off limits to SATIIM or any other uninvited guests unless prior authorization is granted by the Forestry Department and the company. So early this morning, the fate of the media tour of the area was anybody’s guess. Country Representative for US Capital Alistair King seemed as uncertain as everybody else.

Alistair King

Alistair King, Country Representative, US Capital Energy

“Anybody has to get permission from the Forest Department first to go into the park because they’re the management of the park.”

Reporter

“Has that permission been given, as far as you know?”

Alistair King

“No no not to my knowledge.”

Reporter

“So what do you make of today’s trip? Will the media be allowed to go along with SATIIM to tour the park and the other facilities?”

Alistair King

“Well I spoke to Mr. Bardalez, the District Forest Officer, and I think he’ll be down there. Because of the safety issue it has to be organized. We can’t have a whole crowd of people going there at one time. So if he chooses to do that when you guys meet him he’s the boss of that so he will make that decision.”

King says nobody wants a confrontation, and he had asked SATIIM to present a list of names so that due process could have been followed, but that wasn’t done. Still, he doesn’t think the image of US Capital is taking much flak from the recent events.

Alistair King

“We’re only doing what we’re allowed to do under our permits issued by the government. So we don’t see how we can really get a bad image. We applied to all the rules; we work closely with the government. They have their inspectors down on a regular basis so you know; we can’t do more than what we’re doing. In a way we’re caught up in this fight between SATIIM and the Forest Department.”

A release from the Ministry of Energy, Science and Public Utilities has accused SATIIM of misleading Mayan villagers, and suggests strongly that the N.G.O. should explain what the recent decision by the Court of Appeal really means. But King seems to think that the explanation should come from the government.

Alistair King

“You know I live down there so there’s a lot of misinformation on what the real verdict was from the Appeals Court and I think the government needs to get down there, or the Attorney General’s Office or the lawyers and explain to the people what the verdict really meant. Because everybody has a different idea so there’s confusion down there and a lot of people really don’t understand what the outcome of that verdict really was so I think that’s what the government is trying to do with that press releases.”

Reporter

“Has your organization tried to approach the people and tried to explain to them what SATIIM has perceived as saying wrongly, to clear up that misconception?”

Alistair King

“Well no no because it’s not our place to do that. It’s the government’s place to do that. So we go in there and they’ll say oh man they’re trying to tell it from their side. No no…let the government’s lawyers explain that, and we’ve asked them to come and explain that.”

For the record, SATIIM’s Executive Director Greg Choc has maintained that they have no need to seek permission to travel on land which is rightfully theirs. Mike Rudon for News Five.