Vice President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo on Thursday confirmed that Guyana is not liable in any way for the recent oil spill disaster off the coast of Tobago. He made this clarification following concerns raised at a press engagement that Trinidadian officials are suggesting that the vessels involved in the spill were en route to Guyana.
Last week, an oil spill spanning approximately 12 kilometers (7.46 miles), first emerged near Tobago’s shore, posing a significant threat to the region’s marine ecosystem. Despite initial attempts by first responders and volunteers to contain the spill and prevent it from reaching nearby cruise ship ports, efforts to plug the leak have thus far proven unsuccessful. Trinidad’s Coast Guard identified at least two vessels allegedly bound for Guyana as being involved in the incident, prompting regional inquiries into the circumstances surrounding the spill.
When pressed by reporters about the vessels’ supposed destination, Dr. Jagdeo expressed skepticism, noting that Trinidadian authorities had initially sought information from Guyana regarding the vessels’ itinerary. He emphasized that even if the vessels were indeed bound for Guyana, any mishap involving vessels destined for Guyanese shores could transpire anywhere globally, thereby absolving Guyana of responsibility for incidents occurring beyond its jurisdictional boundaries.
Dr. Jagdeo swiftly dismissed the notion that Guyana could be held accountable for a vessel’s misfortune in waters near another sovereign state. He critiqued the rationale behind such suggestions, likening them to the preposterous notion that any independent nation must bear responsibility for accidents involving vessels destined for its ports, irrespective of where the incident occurs.
“So, the logic is…you are saying that if a vessel is leaving the United States of America, destined to Barbados, and it is a privately owned vessel, and sinks off the coast of the Bahamas, that Barbados now– a sovereign country, must bear responsibility for that vessel? The state of Barbados must be responsible for the spill. Is that the logic, is the logic? Well, it’s stupid. It’s not sensible,” Dr. Jagdeo passionately argued, dismissing the notion of Guyana’s liability.
Furthermore, Dr. Jagdeo underscored the international ramifications of the spill, highlighting its classification as a Tier 3 event and affirming that multiple international bodies had been approached for assistance. He reiterated Guyana’s willingness to provide support in clean-up endeavors should the country possess the necessary capacity.
Amidst ongoing efforts to contain the oil spill off Tobago’s coast, reports indicate that portions of the spill are drifting into the Caribbean Sea. The spill has heightened concern among neighboring countries, with Venezuela’s Foreign Affairs Ministry closely monitoring the situation and engaging in discussions with Trinidad’s government to coordinate response efforts.
