Thank you all for being here this afternoon. Our first priority –the premise on which we have been working from day one –is to ensure the health and safety of the people, community and environment in the area directly affected by the Rubis Fuel Spill.

It is the people of Marathon –the 5 households directly affected by this situation, in particular –who must be at the forefront of our actions.At a timewhen those with only second or third hand knowledge of the situation proffer advice and information that has not been validated, it is particularly important that the residents of Marathon be given an opportunity to speak with, and hear directly from Government as to our plans for remediation.

From the moment our Government became aware of the situation at the Robinson Road Service Station, we acted immediately.We worked with Rubis to ensure they accepted responsibility for the spill.

At no cost to the Bahamian people or Government, Rubis compliedwith Government’s direction to remediate the situation. All contaminants inwater and soil in the properties to which we have been given access have been eliminated. The Rubis Spill is contained. And the results of testing for contamination levels in wells, residences and businesses at all affected areas have been made public.

In addition to these steps, Government acted promptly to decrease the risk of negative health effects to residents of the area. The first health and safety step we took was to insure that residents in the area were granted access to city water as soon as possible.

We also instructed –as remains the case today –that nobody in the area should use ground water.

We will maintain this direction until independent scientific verification confirms that ground water is completely safe.

AsMinister of the Environment, I have the duty to take a close look at events like the Rubis Fuel Spill –as well as other historical spills in the area–so we can apply lessons learned from the situation to prevent future accidents. This is important not only to the people of Marathon, but to all Bahamians.

In that spirit,we will table new public safety and environmental protection legislation by the end of the year. This will enable the creation of the Department of Environmental Planning and Protection; and introduce Petroleum Sector regulations for the handling, maintenance and cleanup of contaminants.

Finally, our ChiefMedical Officer Dr. Glen Beneby, towhom I now yield the floor, will oversee a response of the Ministry of Health, supported by expert advice and technical assistance from PAHO, to address the health needs of the 5 households directly affected by the Rubis Spill.