A three-day National Workshop on Oil Spill Preparedness and Response,commenced at Paradise Cove Resort on Wednesday, facilitated by the Ministry of Home Affairs, with responsibility for the Environment, along with the Department of Disaster Management. The aim of the workshop, ending on Friday, is to review the existing contingency plan and to provide training in oil spill preparedness and response.
The participants were drawn from various Government departments including Disaster Management, the Environment, Marine and Fisheries, Police and representatives of Delta Petroleum and Sol Anguilla.
The facilitators are Dr. Rebecca Coward, Technical Adviser with International Tanker Owners Pollution Federation Ltd.; Veronique Moriniere, a French Government consultant and Dr. Elliott Taylor, a consultant; in Polaris Applied Sciences.
Minister of Home Affairs, Walcott Richardson, speaking at the opening ceremony, described the workshop as having been extremely important and timely. “Preventing oil spills is the best strategy for avoiding potential damage to the environment and human health,” the Minister stated. “The Government of Anguilla views the potential of oil spills seriously. As we look ahead, we will put in place comprehensive measures to enhance security and navigational safety, and well-tested procedures to clean up oil and chemical spills should they occur.”
Governor Alistair Harrison said it was quite possible that one of the new generations of large tankers might run aground, possibly a long way fromAnguilla, but eventually a large oil slick could be driven by winds and currents onto the island’s beaches.
“Just think of it,” he said. “Our beaches are our greatest national asset. They are the centre of our tourism product, and if even one side of the island is affected it would be quite devastating.” He advised that there could be a smaller scale disaster involving the oil boats that regularly enterCoritoBay. Although that would require a different type of response, it would need to be equally well driven and effective.
The Governor added that oil spills were a new subject for most persons inAnguilla, but one that was tremendously important because of its potential devastating consequences. He therefore thought the workshop was very important.
The workshop is part of the Regional Risk Reduction Initiative, a project implemented by the United Nations Development Programme and funded by the European Union. The objectives are to develop the local capacities for disaster risk management of the Dutch Overseas Countries and Territories in theCaribbean.
