High Court Judge, Justice Simone Morris-Ramlal this morning dismissed a second case by local activist, Danuta Radzik to stall the gas-to-energy (GTE) project.
The activist’s legal challenge sought to contest the Environmental Assessment Board’s (EAB) decision regarding the project.
The GTE project is expected to cut citizens’ electricity bill by half as early as 2025. The project entails several components including a Natural Gas Liquids (NGL) facility, a 300 megawatt (MW) power plant, a transmission and distribution network and a control centre.
Radzik had initially filed her case in May 22, 2023, contesting the EAB’s affirmation of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) waiver for an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) to be conducted for the gas plants that will be constructed at Wales, West Bank Demerara.
The activist sought an Order of Certiorari to quash the decision to exempt the gas facility from an EIA, contending that the decision of the EAB was flawed and/or contrary to, or in breach of the law. However, the court dismissed this first action on September 6, 2023, ruling that it was directed against the wrong parties and ordering Radzik to cover costs.
Undeterred, Radzik pursued a second legal avenue on November 23, 2023, challenging the same decision by the EAB. In handing down her ruling earlier today, Justice Morris-Ramlal at the Demerara High Court, dismissed Radzik’s claim and ordered her to pay costs of $200,000.00 to the EAB on or before June 3, 2024.
According to the EAB, Justice Morris-Ramlal found that there was inordinate delay and that the rights of third parties would be affected.
