T O O M MUCHT O LOSEE
TOO U C H TO L O S
21.3.14
Volume 1, Issue 1
Did You Know?
While technology has improved allowing oil companies to dig deeper for oil in
the offshore, the technology for containing and cleaning oil spills remains the same. Setting booms, skimming oil off the surface and using dispersants (chemicals to break up the oil) and manual clean up remain
the staples in containing and cleaning oil spills. The disaster that occurred in the Gulf of Mexico proved
none of these methods were effective to reduce the impact to commercial fishing and to the economic and
livelihood loss for thousands of fishers.
Legal Battles
In 2012, the Belize Coalition to Save our Natural Heritage enjoined Oceana in Belize and Citizens organized for Liberty
through Action (COLA) in a lawsuit challenging the validity of 6 offshore oil contracts. A few days prior to the judgment
being delivered, Government forced 4 of the 6 companies to relinquish their contracts, citing breach of contract
requirements. Justice Legall of the Supreme Court declared the 6 offshore contracts unlawful, null and void and an
injunction was granted on April 16, 2013. Both Government and the Belize Coalition to Save our Natural Heritage filed
appeals of the judgment in the Appeals Court. However, the Government also filed an application in Supreme Court to
have the injunction lifted citing irreparable economic lost to the companies already executing their concessions. On
June 21, the Chief Justice granted the Government’s request for the injunction, allowing the two remaining companies
to pursue activities under their concession.
The appeal applications were not called in the October sitting of the Appeals Court. As the Court of Appeal sits three
times a year – March, June and October – it is envisioned that the applications will be heard in 2014. After the June 21
ruling, the two existing offshore contracts – Princess Petroleum Co. Ltd. and Providence Energy Co Ltd. – proceeded to
commence activities under their contract.
-Tanya Williams (Executive Director)
All things oil...