Newell wants clarity on oil exploration in Jamaica’s waters

KINGSTON, Jamaica — With the Government increasingly optimistic that oil will be found in Jamaica’s waters in commercial quantities, Opposition Spokesman on the Environment and Climate Resilience, Omar Newell, is calling for clarity from the administration in relation to the environmental safeguards that will be implemented.

Newell had several questions for the Government on Wednesday as he made his contribution to the Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives.

He asked: “What is the Government’s environmental position regarding offshore oil exploration? What marine risk framework exists? What spill response capacity exists or will be built? What environmental liability regime exists? What protections exist for fisheries and tourism? What consultation has occurred with coastal communities? What insurance requirements would apply? What independent scientific assessments have been completed?”

“I am not here to say Jamaica should never examine economic opportunities as they arise. I am here to say that the country deserves clarity before irreversible decisions are made,” he said.

He added that, “Environmental governance is no longer merely a moral issue. Increasingly, it is a legal and financial risk issue.”

Newell pointed out that globally, governments and corporations are increasingly facing climate litigation; biodiversity litigation; pollution liability claims; failure-to-regulate actions; and intergenerational environmental justice claims.

“And so Jamaica must ensure that any future extractive activity is governed by strong independent regulation; robust environmental standards; transparent scientific review; modern liability frameworks; and enforceable polluter-pays principles.”

“This House must understand that drilling and associated industries have the potential to move us from a minor contributor to global warming to a major contributor, opening us up to emerging litigation and claims,” Newell warned.

He noted that the world is changing and environmental protection is no longer peripheral to development.

“It is central to investment credibility, climate financing, public trust, and national survival,” he said.

Following indications in April that there is likely oil offshore Jamaica’s waters, the top brass of United Oil & Gas Plc reportedly headed to the United States for “several meetings with some of the major oil companies”, according to Energy Minister Daryl Vaz.

The development is the latest following a recent statement by United Oil & Gas Plc signalling that it has identified potential thermogenic hydrocarbons in piston core samples from its Walton-Morant Licence offshore Jamaica, representing “an established body of evidence for an active petroleum system in Jamaica”.