Dear Editor,
I was enjoying my period of ‘spiritual renewal’ since the end of February while observing ‘Lent’ and had decided that I was not making any public statements during this period. However, this situation is very close to home, literally.
I read in the Kaieteur News on 25 March, 2021, in an article titled ‘US logistics company to set up EBD Waste Treatment Facility’ This facility will be done by ‘Global Oil Environmental Services’ (GOES) at Coverden on the East Bank of Demerara. The article stated that ‘GOES proposed the construction and operation of a Waste Treatment Facility for transfer, storage, treatment and disposal of Exploration and Production (E&P) Oil and Gas Waste and that the facility would be housed at Block ‘X’ TE Huiste, Block I, ‘T’ Hustle Coverden, East Bank Demerara.
What I found alarming in the article was that the following statement, ‘The EPA outlined on its notice that the project would not significantly impact the environment, therefore concluding that it does not require an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)’.
Editor, I was born and grew up in Coverden. My family owns about a quarter of that village and we have been residing there since 1842, according to official records; over 178 years. I still have possibly about 200 blood-relatives who live there, so this is a very personal matter.
I also feel a sense of duty and responsibility, to look out for the interest and wellbeing of residents at Supply, Land of Canaan, Sarah Joanna, Pearl, Coverden, Soesdyke, Timehri, and those villages on the Soesdyke Linden Highway, such as, Kuru, Kuru, Kururu, Yarrowkabra, etc. These are my villages where my family and friends live, therefore while I am happy to see the development of these communities, I would also ensure that it is done sustainably and does not adversely affect the residents and their environment – physical and social.
Having read the article, I did a quick inquiry on whether the residents were aware of this facility and if community meetings were held to engage them on the implications (Challenges and opportunities) of having an oil and gas waste treatment facility in their community, and the feedback I received was that the residents were not aware.
I would therefore strongly recommend that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ensures that an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (EISA) is done before this facility is approved and that the community is engaged considerably in this process. I look forward to receiving my invitation to these meetings.
Here are some of the reasons why an ESIA is absolutely necessary; many of these residents are engaged in cash crop farming, they also have kitchen gardens as a means of livelihood; as such, when there is high (spring) tide, some of the lands on the western side of the Demerara River, in the community floods, bringing water onto the lands into the farms and kitchen gardens, the residents need to be aware of the potential dangers of this waste treatment facility. What chemicals will be used and discharged into the river, if any? What quantities will be discharged? What chemicals will be stored at the facility? What is the possible impact on their crops, livelihoods, health, environment, etc.
Additionally, if there is a chemical spill, waste leakage, how would it impact on the 178 years lifestyle of the residents of this community? How will it affect the ground water and surface water? The water from the Demerara River flows into the trenches/canals which flows all the way through farmlands to the East Demerara Water Conservancy aka ‘the conservancy’.
I also have several family members and another over 150 years family history, as well as friends and other families on the West Bank of the Demerara River, immediately behind and obliquely opposite Coverden; in the villages of La Harmonie, Catherina, Bethany, among others, and their only means of access to and from their homes is by speedboat, across the Demerara River.
These are communities that do not have electricity nor portable water, therefore they use the water from the Demerara River for domestic use also, for example washing their clothes. They use water from the canal for drinking and cooking purposes and the water from the Demerara river flows into these canals; some of them also do rainwater harvesting. I grew up washing my clothes in the Demerara River and drinking water from the Canal. The water was also used for cooking.
I support development, and no doubt the oil and gas sector will create enormous economic and other opportunities for the country and its people and for communities, but we have to ensure that this growth and development is balanced by ensuring that the wellbeing of citizens, residents in communities, are a priority.
Perhaps now is the time for the government to expand the all-whether roads on the West Bank of Demerara, for the residents in the villages of La Harmonie, Catherina, Bethany, etc., this would provide them with an alternative means of accessing their communities/homes.
Additionally, the government can also assist with portable water, even if it is through a rainwater harvesting programme and an electrification initiative for those communities. This will reduce their sole dependence of the communities on the use of the Demerara River and other surface water sources for access and domestic purposes.
One of the areas that I am still hoping to work with the government on as a part of my proposed project on, ‘Development Preparedness: Strengthening Cross-sectoral Governance in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) to Maximise Opportunities for Maintaining Rule of Law as Guyana Transitions into an Oil and Gas Society’; in addition to cross-sectoral governance and legal reforms, human rights, etc., is on ‘Community Development Agreements’.
This can either be legislated by the government or included in policy for foreign and local investors to establish community development agreements with local authorities or communities, so that the development support for communities from investors, could be more structured and makes for better community development planning, as well as planning by investors for community development initiatives.
I hope that the EPA will ensure that the ESIA and community engagements are done before approval is granted for this facility. If approval is eventually granted, I hope that the investors will be keen to have discussions on a ‘Community Development Agreement’ for mutual benefit for the community and the investors.
Yours faithfully,
Citizen Audreyanna Thomas
