FOLLOWING a brisk weekend storm, South Ocean residents were horrified to find their local beach hemmed in by a thick coat of black oil.

The homeowners say they can't be sure where the oil might have come from, but noted that BEC's Clifton Pier Power Plant, implicated in a number of past spills, is not far away. They said slicks have washed ashore before, but never one this substantial.

"We first noticed the oil slick when we took the dogs out for their morning walk, at around 8.30am," one homeowner said.

"My understanding is that the oil must have come in with the stormy weather as the marks are very high up the walls, which would only happen in very stormy weather and also at high tide.

"The amount of oil appears to be much more than it was last time and it will need Environmental Services to come and clean the contaminated beach now.

"It really is disgusting and looks like something from a horror movie.

"I just hope we can find out who is responsible and make sure that this does not happen again. Our seas and land need to be protected as they are the country's most important asset."

In 2007, Minister of Labour and Maritime Affairs Dion Foulkes admitted that New Providence's main power plant is anything but environmentally friendly.

He said: "The problem of oil spills at Clifton Pier is ongoing, as there is an old storage site which seeps.

"There is a need to have sufficient equipment and trained persons to respond to the problem of oil pollution. We are planning conferences and workshops to train persons throughout the islands to deal with spills once they arise."

BEC officials could not be reached for comment before The Tribune went to press last night.