Representatives from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Guyana Fire Service, the Maritime Administration, and other sister agencies gathered this morning at the Herdmanston Lodge on Peter Rose Street to participate in the final consultation round for the National Oil Spill Contingency Plan.
The event was coordinated by the Civil Defense Commission (CDC) and is expected to conclude today at 15: 30 hrs.
During the opening of the workshop, CDC Head, Colonel Kester Craig, reminded that efforts to get the plan in place commenced since 2017, with the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) handling the first assignment of outlining the agencies that would be involved in the process as well as their responsibilities. The Guyana Defense Force (Coast Guard) also collaborated with the Commission on this exercise.
Craig stressed that during that process, every effort was made to follow international standards. To date, the CDC Head said that there was no deviation from using world-renowned practices for oil spill monitoring, prevention and response. In fact, Craig boasted that external partners such as the International Maritime Organization (IMO) were instrumental in this regard and were consulted on several occasions to ensure Guyana’s stakeholders were on the right track in drafting the plan.
He noted that additional commentary from the IMO along with those from today’s workshop would be used to put the finishing touches on the document. The Standard understands that the CDC intends to present the final draft to Cabinet by November 1.
While the document is still in draft stage, Colonel Craig sought to assure participants, and the citizenry by extension that should an oil spill occur, Guyana’s authorities would be in a position to act accordingly since the sister agencies have been continuously apprised of their responsibilities as well as the chain of command to be followed for various circumstances.
Also delivering remarks at the opening of the workshop was Minister of State, Dawn Hastings. The official was in high praise of the work done thus far by the CDC and other stakeholders. She urged the participants to not underestimate the task at hand while noting that the government will continue to offer its support for the protection of Guyana’s environment as it moves closer to oil production.
