GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC -Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo emphasizes the urgent need for a new piece of legislation that seeks to protect the state from responsibilities in the event of an oil spoil, offshore Guyana. The Government is currently fine-tuning this crucial legislation.
During a recent press conference, Jagdeo said the legislative framework will set out the proposed procedures for oil spill preparation, planning, and response to issues relating to liabilities and damages.
It will also detail the state’s responsibilities and the responsibilities of those accountable in the event of an oil spill.
“So, we would be equipped now with a tool, a law which says primarily that any company causes a spill, whether it is a shipping company, production company, an exploration, that they would all be responsible for the cleanup and also that they would be responsible for consequential losses that are the fishermen and so should they be affected, so that is the essence of the bill and we are working on this,” Jagdeo said.
He also said the Government is meticulously studying similar pieces of legislation from other jurisdictions to ensure a comprehensive understanding of the various positions. The goal is to get the piece of legislation sent to the National Assembly and passed soon.
“As I said, I want that to get to the Parliament soon. We are going through an intensive process going through the bill with all the technical agencies—EPA and GGMC. It is a tight squeeze to table it before August 12 and pass it, but that is one thing we promised¥
According to Jagdeo, the new legislative framework will further strengthen the Government’s institutional framework. The Government has since passed the Local Content Act and updated the Natural Resource Fund legislation.
and then 