‘Sargassum not oil’: Environment minister denounces claims oil spill reached ocean

Minister of Environment Adrian Forde dismissed as “dangerous and irresponsible” social media reports that oil from Friday’s Oistins spill entered the sea, insisting that no contamination of the marine environment occurred.

Forde told journalists at a post-clean-up briefing that rumours were categorically false and threatened to undermine public trust in national emergency responses.

“There were no infusions of oil into the marine environment,” he told reporters. “It is not who we are as a people, and I discourage anyone from using misinformation for nefarious gain. It could harm our tourism, our businesses, and our own people.”

Forde said emergency response teams, including the Environmental Protection Department (EPD), worked throughout the day to contain the spill, prevent contamination and enforce environmental protection protocols.

The EPD’s acting deputy director, Lisa Senhouse, said the department chairs the national oil spill response committee, which had been activated and was satisfied that clean-up and containment operations were successful.

“This plan has been tested many times and worked again today,” she said.

“We are comfortable with the measures in place and are satisfied that the environment has been protected.”’

Despite concern about the spill close to the water, officials said it did not reach the sea. (HG)

Acting Prime Minister Santia Bradshaw, the minister of transport and works, also addressed public concern, noting that the brownish-coloured water visible in some areas was not oil in the sea, but sargassum seaweed.

Bradshaw said: “It’s unfortunate that people have sought to give the impression that our beaches have been damaged in some way. We’ve seen the sargassum on the shore, and I’m sure that that may have led the individual who posted the video to believe that the murky waters was actually some of the oil seeping into the sea, but as you heard from Minister Forde, those fears have been allayed.” 

She praised the assistance of community members who lent a hand in swiftly creating a sand berm to stop the flow of oil into the waters.

She also gave an assurance that Oistins remained safe for business and visitors. 

shannamoore@barbadostoday.bb