By AVA TURNQUEST

Tribune Chief Reporter

aturnquest@tribunemedia.net

ATTORNEY General Allyson Maynard-Gibson yesterday dodged questions over whether the government should have expedited the release of an independent report into the 2012 underground gas leak in the Marathon community and related public health assessments, stating that she was not an expert.

Mrs Maynard-Gibson explained that while it was “obvious” that experts in the various branches of government were working hard on the issue, officials may have operated “in silos” rather than co-ordinating remediation efforts.

She insisted that technical professionals advised persons who were immediately and directly impacted by the gas leak as soon as they were made aware of the fuel release of 12,000 gallons of unleaded gasoline.

She also dismissed calls for an independent committee to review the government’s handling of the matter and determine whether there was criminal negligence.

“I don’t want to comment on timeline because I’m not an expert,” she said. “What I would say is that it could appear to me that there may be some of what I would call, working in silos. All of the experts in the various branches of government are obviously working hard and it could be that they’re working in silos rather than all of us working together coordinating efforts.

“I again don’t want to point fingers, I don’t think it is worthy of us to point fingers when it is clear that everybody does care, is concerned, and wants to exercise all of our energy to addressing this serious matter.”

She added: “We in the government under no circumstances will allow this very serious matter to be used as a political football.”

The attorney general spoke to The Tribune on the sidelines of parliamentary debate on the Juries Amendment Bill in the Senate, where she is a sitting member.

Debate in the Upper Chamber grew contentious as opposition senators expressed their outrage over the government’s handling of the matter and renewed calls for the resignation of Ministers of Environment and Health, Kenred Dorsett and Perry Gomez.

FNM Senators Carl Bethel and Michael Pintard charged that the decision to withhold the report for more than a year placed Bahamians at an egregious and immeasurable risk. Mr Pintard cautioned that the public should not buy into the political narrative from the government on the matter.

According to the BEST Commission, the fuel release was observed in late December 2012 by former operator Fiorente Management, and reported to Rubis on January 19, 2013.

Last week the government released an independent report prepared by Black and Veach International, who found that area residents were possibly exposed to harmful chemicals. The report was completed in February 2014, and called for a town meeting to release findings to the public and a communication schedule to keep area residents informed of remediation plans.

Earlier this week, Mr Dorsett said that he had hoped to expedite public consultation on the matter, but could not release the independent report on remediation efforts and chemical exposure until it had been authorised by the Office of the Attorney General.

When his statement was put to Mrs Maynard-Gibson, she said: “I didn’t hear Minister Dorsett say that, I think what’s important is for us not to point fingers. Save to say that it is obvious that Minister Dorsett and his team acted immediately to engage those who were directly impacted and to remediate in accordance with the highest international standards.”

The BVI report was released a day after a town meeting was staged by the BEST Commission to present the report’s findings to area residents. At the meeting, Marathon residents railed against the government for its inadequate response to health concerns, and failure to consult residents on remediation efforts and tests conducted in their homes.

Yesterday, Mrs Maynard Gibson said: “What is extremely important for the public to note is that when the technical professionals in the various ministries became aware that there was a spill, they moved to act to advise those who were immediately and directly impacted of what had happened and to remediate they brought in experts.

“They exercised their own expertise in accordance with the highest international standards.”

She added: “I can tell you that I know well the representative for the area (MP Jerome Fitzgerald) and the minister of environment and I am sure that all of the information that needs to be given to the public will be given to the public in collaboration with the Office of the Attorney General. All steps that are necessary, all legal steps to explore remedies and any other legal steps will be explored and I want to ensure the public that this government is a government that does care about the people and the relevant ministers, including the minister of health, will all be working together to be engaged with the people of Marathon and all of those impacted by the spill and they will be able to see touch and feel those efforts, and to continue to see touch and feel those efforts.”