PROVIDENCIALES, Turks and Caicos Islands; Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - In the aftermath of the event involving the MV Dunlin Arrow in mid – February 2009, where in which the cargo ship ran aground off Providenciales, causing an oil slick in our territorial waters, the Department of Environment and Coastal Resources (DECR) has decided to take the lead in the preparation of a Draft Oil Spill Contingency Plan for the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI). It was recognized that the Turks and Caicos Islands are not prepared for this type of disaster, which could potentially be devastating to our natural environment.
To that end, earlier today, persons from lead agencies such as Department of Disaster Management and Emergencies (DDME), Environmental Health, DECR, Attorney’s General Chambers, Turks and Caicos Airport Authority, the Police Department, Tourist Board and Government Information Service met at the Natural Environmental Centre (NEC) on Lower Bight Road in Providenciales to review the draft plan, and put in place a course of action, should something of this nature were to occur once more.
Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Natural Resources, Mrs. Judith Campbell said: “a small part of the overall plan is addressing disasters in the Turks and Caicos, and that what fits into the work of the DDME.”
“My hope,” said Mrs. Campbell, “is that we work hard at advancing this contingency plan, and that it does not become a shelf document, but a working one that can be enacted at any time.”
Mr. Wesley Clerveaux, DECR’s Director said that it was imperative that appropriate measures and protocols are put in place, that way, each agency knows the way forward, who is taking the lead, and how each will proceed in the event of an oil spill, oil slick or any disaster that may occur that would have a negative impact on the TCI.
The meeting proved to be very successful with regard to lessons learn from February’s oil slick and it was noted that a few areas needed capacity building. These include, but not limited to - initial response and assessment; responsilities of specific departments; legislation regarding oil spills; the media; communications protocol; funding and partnership arrangement for resource mobilization, and damage assessment.
All participants left with a clear understanding of what role their agency played, and how best they go about carrying out their functions. It was noted that the DDME takes the lead in the occurrence of any disaster, be it man-made or natural; therefore, the Draft Oil Spill Contingency Plan is to be revised and worked through initiatives that are currently in place by the DDME.
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