Environmental attorney Romauld Ferreira said yesterday the independent review conducted into the delay of the Rubis report, announced a year ago, was a public relations exercise.

In May 2015, retired Justice Joseph Strachan was appointed by the government to lead an independent review to determine why the Black and Veatch report was delayed.

The report concluded that residents in the vicinity of the Rubis gas station on Robinson Road were exposed to chemicals in groundwater and vapors at concentrations that could pose a health risk.

Ferreira questioned whether the Rubis review had even been carried out and he urged the government to release the review if it is in fact completed.

Outside of Cabinet on Tuesday, Attorney General Allyson Maynard-Gibson refused to speak about the independent review.

"I can't answer questions about that report," she said. "It would be inappropriate for me to say anything about the report at all, anything."

In a May 2015 press release, Maynard-Gibson said: "In fulfillment of its promise, the government of The Bahamas is taking the necessary measures to ensure that there are no future delays in the lawful release of important reports to Bahamians."

She added: "The review is intended to ensure that the processes to support future investigations and enquires conducted in the public interest are managed according to international best practices, as well as to ensure timely disclosure when these reports are going to be made public."

The appointment of Justice Strachan came as the government faced public backlash for failing to inform Marathon residents of the health hazards outlined in the report.

Ferreira invited Marathon MP Jerome Fitzgerald, Maynard-Gibson and the Minister of the Environment Kenred Dorsett to drink a glass of water from one of the wells of the residents who live near to the Rubis gas station. He said the fact that the report into the delay has not been released shows the lack of accountability and transparency on the part of ministers and the extent to which they would go to protect their jobs.

In a May 3, 2015 press release, the government said: "We also wish to express our sincere regret for government's delay in releasing the Black and Veatch report, which assessed government's response, and Rubis' compliance with remediation steps.

"An initial analysis of the report's release reveals that poor coordination and administration led to the delay."

A gas leak was discovered at the station in January 2013. The government received the Black and Veatch report in February 2014, however the report was not made public until April 15, 2015.

Ferreira is the Free National Movement's candidate for Marathon.

In the House of Assembly in March, Fitzgerald claimed that Justice for Marathon, a group reportedly concerned with protecting the interests of Marathon residents, was connected to Save The Bays, which he claims is really a political organization intent on destabilizing the Christie administration.

Ferriera is also affiliated with Save The Bays.

Don Alleyne

Guardian Staff Reporter

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