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EMAIL to Stuart Bruseth, Head of Global Media Relations, Royal Dutch Shell Plc, from Adrian Loveridge

Personal attention of Mr. Stuart Bruseth
Head of Global Media Relations
Royal Dutch Shell plc.

I have sent under separate cover by email a story that appeared in our local newspaper, The Daily Nation, this week.

I understand that Shell have accepted responsibility for the leaking of the A1, kerosene pipe sometime ago, but the settlement figure has yet to be agreed by the Southern Farmers group.

I personally witnessed this week, a bucket being lowered into a recently built well in a heavily populated residential area some distance from the original pipes. When hauled-up the bucket appeared to contain a highly flammable liquid that smelt like kerosene.

Very close by residents attempting to grow ground provisions and animals were feeding off the grass. The well was also located less than 500 yards from one of our most pristine beaches, Enterprise.

I fully understand that there are lawyers representing your interests, on Barbados, but I implore you to ensure that immediate action is taken before this issue develops into a major environmental problem.

I have read the Shell environmental mission statement on your website and I fully support your good intentions and work in this area.

Sadly, this matter has been allowed to drag on for an unreasonable time and in the interests of all Barbadians, would ask that you ensure satisfactory closure.

Thank You

Adrian Loveridge
5 January 2008
 
ARTICLE

NationNews.com (Barbados): Time Gov’t ‘helps oil-spill victims’

GOVERNMENT NEEDS to help victims of the Shell oil pipeline spillage, who have gone more than a decade without compensation.

Member of Parliament for Christ Church East Central, Ronald Jones, made this appeal in the House of Assembly yesterday.

Government ought to assist farmers occupying the 200 acres contaminated by the spill in getting “some final solution to their agony and pain and suffering”, the Opposition politician said.

Jones complained that farmers had experienced “12 years of struggle in the wilderness” against the oil giant.

“Part of our responsibility as a Parliament is to stand up for the rights of the disadvantaged…,” he pointed out.

He questioned what role Government was playing in the battle for compensation.

He was speaking during debate on a bill establishing rules governing Barbados’ offshore petroleum sector.

In 1995, an aviation fuel pipeline running through Christ Church ruptured and contaminated underground irrigation water supplies.

Shell acknowledged responsibility and offered compensation reported to total $2 million to these affected farmers. The group, however, rejected the offer as too low.

Lawyers from both sides have been discussing the matter ever since.

Last year, chairman of Simpson Oil Limited (SOL), Kyffin Simpson, reported that he went to London to speak with the top brass of Shell on the matter and had received an assurance from them that they wanted to see the matter resolved in the shortest possible time.

Jones said yesterday that he saw SOL’s intervention as “positive”, but wanted to know “what has been the voice of Government relative to the suffering of these people”.
(TY)

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One Comment

  1. Adrian Loveridge says:

    John…

    The lasting comments posting under my name what NOT me.

    I have heard nothing back from Shell as yet.

    Thank You.

    Adrian

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