Canadian Lawsuit Names Lionel Nurse – Is That The Permanent Secretary In The Environment Ministry?
We were surfing the net and came across the following article about the bidding for offshore oil exploration rights in Barbados waters. The name “Lionel Nurse” rang a bell, and yes, that name is on the lawsuit filed against the Prime Minister and so many other prominent bajans. (See BFP’s article Barbados Lawsuit Names Prime Minister Owen Arthur, Chief Justice Simmons And Many Prominent Citizens And Businesses)
Just curious… can anybody tell us if the “Lionel Nurse” named in that lawsuit is the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Energy and the Environment.
If half the rumours on the street are true, that lawsuit promises to be most interesting!
Here is the article from the Barbados Advocate about the oil bidding…
Local Environment Must Be Protected
Barbadians can be assured that any company, which successfully bids to look for hydrocarbon reserves in the country’s offshore territorial space, will have sound environmental policies and records, ensuring that the environment is not jeopardised.
That is according to Minister of Energy and the Environment, Elizabeth Thompson, as she delivered the address at the Launch of the Barbados Offshore Licensing Round 2007, at the Sandy Lane Hotel recently. The bid round is set to be complete in January 2008 with the award of bids. The bid submission date is set for November 30th, 2007.
We will also insist on high safety and health standards. Equally, there will be requirements for training of Barbadians and education in sector- specific disciplines. Investing companies must demonstrate seriousness and a commitment to explore the licensed areas and to promote the transfer of skills and technology to our citizens, she added.
She said that the provision of training for locals is of the absolute importance, given the fact that Barbados intends to continue to invest in the development of its people. As such, she said, such training would ensure that Barbadians are competent in what is perhaps the most revenue rich industry in the world, and possess new skill sets, which can earn foreign exchange for the nation.
Delivering the opening remarks, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Energy and the Environment, Lionel Nurse, said that if bid round results in commercial benefits, it has the potential to significantly transform the Barbadian economy, landscape and indeed the society. This, he explained, is because as a small island state the marine spaces and resources are much larger than those on land. The comparison, an island with all of 166 square miles, of 431 square kilometres and the present bid round covers an area of approximately 70 000 square kilometres, he noted.
Referring to the timeline of the licensing round process, the PS said that there will be a presentation in Houston, Texas on June 27, the draft term technical and pre-qualification details will be released on July 15; there will be a clarification session and field trip on July 30, and the bid packages will be released no later than July 30.
In addition, he said that by the end of July, they hope to have the ratification of the laws, tax and regulations also finalised.
… Read this article at the Barbados Advocate while you still can here.
Barbados Free Press 
Even if there is more than one Lionel Nurse its the same one whom would have been refered to in the lawsuit. He was a former Chief Town Planner prior to being promoted to PS. Mark Cummins would have replaced him as Chief. In addition he would have been the Chief Town Planner when the Kingsland Golf Course was approved