Alternattiva Demokratika has expressed it’s concern about the planned drilling for oil in Libyan waters by BP. Prof. Arnold Cassola, AD spokesperson for EU and International Affairs said, “It is of extreme concern for our country that BP, which has a disastrous track record with regards to safety measures in this field, as seen from the recent horrific Gulf of Mexico disaster, is about to start drilling an oil well in the Gulf of Sirte in Libyan waters. The Libyan government is already giving Malta a really bad name through the way it deals with irregular migrants. We ask the Maltese government (and the likewise subservient PL opposition led by Joseph Muscat) to speak up and show some dignity and self respect and not continue acting as if Malta were a colony of Libya.”
Carmel Cacopardo AD spokesperson on Sustainable Development added, “approximately 60% of Malta’s drinking water is obtained as a result of treating sea water from the Mediterranean sea through reverse osmosis plants. In the case of a major accident in the new BP oil well 500 kilometres away from Malta within a matter of hours a major source of drinking water would not be usable any more.
“After the serious accident on the BP platform in the Gulf of Mexico which has been traced to incompetence and decisions doing away with safety procedures, a similar accident in a BP run oil-rig is not an impossible happening. Such an accident will also have long term effects on the livelihood of Maltese fishermen as well as on the tourism industry, not to mention the ecological havoc. AD calls upon the Maltese government to insist with the Libyan government as well as with BP that they are to ensure that all safety procedures are in place before drilling starts.”
AD also called upon the UK government which has defended BP with the US administration to use its good offices to ensure that the lessons learnt from the Gulf of Mexico are acted upon immediately.