THE independent review commissioned by the government into the delayed release of a report on the ramifications of a 2012 Rubis gas leak in the Marathon constituency has been completed – but is still under review.
Attorney General Allyson Maynard-Gibson confirmed yesterday that the report conducted by retired Justice Joseph Strachan was now under review by her office but did not provide a timeframe for its release to the public.
More than a year on since it was ordered, Mrs. Maynard-Gibson told The Tribune that once checked by her office, the document would then be sent to Cabinet for further review.
“I can say that the report is in the possession of the Attorney General’s Office at this time, and it is being reviewed by the relevant parties and the process will be for it to be then reviewed by Cabinet and then thereafter (released),” she said.
A report on the scope and impact of Rubis’ underground gas leak, which occurred in late 2012, was conducted by Black and Veatch International (BVI) at the request of the government in 2013. BVI’s report, completed on February 20, 2014, found that residents were exposed to potentially harmful chemicals but the report was not made public until a year later in April 2015.
In response to public outrage that the report had been withheld, the Office of the Attorney General announced Justice Strachan’s appointment as evidence that it was “taking the necessary measures to ensure that there are no future delays in the lawful release of important reports to Bahamians.”
When asked to respond to critics who branded the review a public relations exercise, Mrs. Maynard-Gibson yesterday said: “I think that process is extremely important. I think it’s something that people understand and respect, and I think it’s something that, especially when it is a transparent and open process that applies equally to everybody, that is exactly what we try to do especially emanating from government.
“We must be seen to be open and transparent and that is what we try to do out of the Office of the Attorney General every day.”
By Ava Turnquest, Tribune Chief Reporter
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