Caribbean ill-equipped for oil spills
19th April 2012
The Caribbean lacks the resources to tackle a major oil spill – according to delegates attending a recent convention in Jamaica to help tackle the issue.
The convention, held in Kingston 11-13 April, encouraged regional cooperation to oversee the offshore oil exploration industry and to improve oil spill response and capabilities in the Caribbean.
Currently Jamaica and other small states rely heavily on their neighbours to the north for assistance in dealing with such events – according to keynote speaker, Christopher Cargill, chairman of the Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica.
The convention was sponsored by the MAJ and the Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica, under the auspices of the IMO, United Nation's Environmental Programme (UNEP) and the Regional Activity Centre/Regional Marine Pollution Emergency Information and Training Centre (RAC/REMPEITC).