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Nigel Hughes designates non-lawyers to address Oil Spill Law
…says he will not speak on every issue while Ramjattan unsure about Bill’s status
Kaieteur News- Attorney-at-law and presidential candidate of the Alliance For Change (AFC), Nigel Hughes, on Friday, refused to comment on the controversial Oil Spill Law that was passed in the National Assembly two weeks ago.
As a lawyer, the party leader, during a press conference, was invited to share his legal opinion on the legislation, which has now been assented to by President Irfaan Ali. He, however, made it clear that the AFC will be managed differently under his stewardship, and designated persons will speak on various subject areas. In this manner, Hughes said he will not be the sole spokesperson for his party.
AFC Leader and Presidential candidate, attorney-at-law, Nigel Hughes
He reasoned, “I know that you are accustomed to political parties having one speaker who speaks on absolutely everything. This is one of the areas in which the AFC defines and distinguishes itself. We have several high-level, competent people to speak on different topics, and that’s the way in which a Hughes administration will operate.”
“We don’t have a God. We have several competent people, and we will be setting up the institutions that will be analysing data, which we will share with the people,” Hughes continued.
To this end, the leader said both Member of Parliament (MP) David Patterson and former Executive Director of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Dr. Vincent Adams, are designated to speak on oil and gas, while the Parliamentary leader, Khemraj Ramjattan, could also respond.
The position taken by the presidential candidate has raised eyebrows, especially since Hughes has refused to speak on issues involving a client of his law firm, ExxonMobil Guyana Limited (EMGL). Some stakeholders believe that Hughes, as not only a president in waiting but also a prominent attorney, should have seized the opportunity to add his voice to the debate given its grave national importance.
Nevertheless, Ramjattan, former leader of the AFC, who is also a lawyer, told reporters that he listened keenly to the presentation by Patterson in Parliament, opposing the law and the deficits therein. According to him, “I supported him fully. You have also seen the articles by Dr. Vincent Adams, the other expert…that Bill, now an Act, I don’t know if it has been assented to yet, but whatever it is, is wholly defective in so many areas.”
For his part, Patterson again raised concern over the lack of consultation with Indigenous communities and leaders, especially since those locations are likely to be most affected by an oil spill, according to studies conducted by ExxonMobil, the operator of the Stabroek Block.
“Imagine you bringing out a Bill that you haven’t even consulted the persons who have been looking after our environment for hundreds of years,” the MP argued.
Additionally, he reiterated the point previously made in Parliament that the Boards that will be established under the legislation lack independent representatives and will instead comprise government appointees.
Meanwhile, Dr. Adams pointed out that the only intent of the legislation was to overturn a ruling by Justice Sandil Kissoon for unlimited oil spill protection.
“Listen to what he (Attorney General Anil Nandlall) says, he has said in the debate…unlimited guarantee is not an animal known to the legal world. Secondly, he said, must we allow a decision to remain on the record that doesn’t make sense in law? He’s talking about Judge Kissoon’s ruling. He (Nandlall) went on, must we be allowed to remain frustrated by an ill-informed decision by the Court? He (Nandlall) went on, it would be highly irresponsible to leave that decision on public record,” Dr. Adams said as he recalled comments made by the AG in Parliament.
To this end, the former EPA head concluded that these statements by the AG confirmed the motive for passing such legislation.
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