American LNG Diplomacy in The Bahamas

by Sir Arthur Foulkes

US Ambassador John Rood is a good friend of the Bahamas. Indeed, he has had a long association with this country even before he took up his ambassadorial post.

His friendly, outgoing manner has endeared him to many and his public statements have been couched in proper terms, even when they were meant to be critical. In this respect Mr. Rood towers over his immediate predecessor who, to be blunt, was seriously deficient and somewhat susceptible to foot-in-mouth disease.

Mr. Rood has been an excellent representative for the US in the Bahamas. Those Bahamians who long to see a more liberal administration in Washington will not be happy when the time comes for his demission. Nevertheless, Bahamians must bear in mind that the ambassador’s first responsibility is to protect and promote the interests of America and Americans.

In specific areas such as drug trafficking, terrorism and crime in general, our interests are just about identical and our collaborative efforts to combat these evils will no doubt continue regardless of the political shade of government in office in either country.

In today’s world it is not considered a breach of diplomatic etiquette for an ambassador to speak openly in a host country with regard to general and specific matters and even disagreements over particular issues once this is done in a spirit of mutual respect.

So there was nothing wrong, at least in my opinion, about Mr. Rood’s weighing in on the highly controversial proposal for an LNG plant and pipeline to Florida. It is a matter of interest to both countries.

Presumably, the ambassador will have made his position clear to the Government of the Bahamas in advance of his public statements, so Foreign Minister Fred Mitchell cannot complain about being blindsided.

Now it is the responsibility of Prime Minister Perry Christie and his cabinet to examine this issue and to make a decision based on what will be in the best interests of the Bahamian people in the long run.

It is quite disturbing that some Bahamians can advocate that we slavishly follow the dictates of the administration of President George W. Bush, or any other US administration for that matter.

As small as we are, we are still a sovereign nation. We are America’s best friend but we should not want to revert to colonial status. The new world order envisioned by enlightened people is about reasoning together with goodwill and mutual respect.

Mr. Christie, and those in his cabinet who are opposed to the LNG project, are facing a serious challenge. Ranged against them are one of the most powerful industrial conglomerates in the world openly supported by one of their own cabinet colleagues and the representative of the US Government.

Despite his recent ruminations about whether the LNG project will spoil this country’s image as a leading tourism destination (which it will), Mr. Christie seems to be tottering on the edge of capitulation. The Americans see this and no doubt hope the ambassador’s public comments will tip him over.

In an interview with The Bahama Journal, Mr. Christie might have given the Bahamian public some hope with his talk about juxtaposing the LNG plant with the fact that vast sums of money are invested in making the Bahamas a great tourism destination. “I wasn’t sure that LNG plants in the Bahamas were consistent with that.”

In the next breath he makes it clear that his concerns had been magically allayed. Or perhaps he thought that the act of merely talking about them would do the trick. Said the Prime Minister:

“I think the new revelations of energy problems and the need for the Bahamas to take advantage of its proximity to the United States of America have given us a different perspective and a different value to that process.

“Provided – as we have had – environmental impact assessments say that it is safe and that [there would be] very, very, very minimal implications to the environment then we, I believe, would go ahead in the very near future.”

What “new revelations of energy problems” is he talking about? All the news from that front has been quite depressing. Except for some powerful ostriches, the world now accepts that the fossil fuel industry is the biggest contributor to environmental degradation and global warming.

Mr. Christie should not want to deliver future generations of Bahamians into those ruthless and callous hands. But it looks as if he will do just that.

* * *

Imagine what Paul Adderley could have done with all this if he were not on the Hill, and if he were so inclined! Some people will remember how he characterized the negotiations between FNM Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham and that ever-so-clever South African, Sol Kerzner.

As it turned out Mr. Kerzner did not take advantage of a supposedly naïve government in the negotiations for the Atlantis development as Mr. Adderley suggested. The Bahamian people got a good deal in the form of a great resort, and without giving away hundreds of acres of prime public land for residential development.

Mr. Adderley could have had a field day describing the drama. A weak, bumbling, indecisive, shuffling, loquacious People’s Champion (fresh from a disastrous encounter with Land Grabber) is in an arena facing terrifying Big Energy who is armed with trident and net, Imperial Proconsul armed with narcotic powder and charm, and the most dangerous gladiator of all: Weapons Carrier disguised as a minister of state intoxicated with power.

Obviously it is an unfair match and PC will be vanquished, much to the sorrow of his admirers in the stands. They will murmur as they amble off into the night that they may have lost their birthright but at least PC was still good for some great speeches in the future.

* * *

In a conversation with Jeff Lloyd on the radio show Real Talk, Ambassador Rood brought nothing new to the debate. The best argument for putting the plant in the Bahamas and laying miles of pipe is that there is no suitable spot on the Florida coast to do it.

That argument has been advanced by others and it is just as unconvincing coming from the ambassador. The truth is that the Floridians want the gas but they also want to sleep nights knowing that the Bahamians are willing to risk terrorist attack, environmental degradation and damage to their tourism industry.

The equally familiar argument that there is a risk in everything is ridiculously facile. Of course risk is involved in everything we do. Yes, the cruise ships represent a risk. But that risk and its benefits cannot be compared to the risk of mammoth LNG tankers in our waters, each with a billion cubic feet of LNG on board.

Taking a shower is a risk. You can slip and crack your skull in the bath tub any morning, but only a damn fool will grease the tub before stepping into it.

* * *

FIX THE AIRPORT

Instead of agonizing over whether we should take the risks involved in being Florida’s gas station, the PLP government should just say no and turn their energies into doing something about the disgraceful state of our premier international airport here in Nassau.

The oil-rich emirate of Dubai in the Persian Gulf is pouring money into tourism development and is busy transforming itself into a superior destination against the time when the oil will run out.

We have a wonderful head start in the Bahamas but our government is considering sacrificing it all on the altar of gas and oil, an altar that will not stand forever. The Floridians are not so stupid. They are protecting their natural heritage and their lucrative tourism trade.

Comments

[Anon]

Me thinks you are wrong on this one Sir. Arthur.
We need a little economic diversification and your fears might be way over the top.

[Kyle]

Economic diversification is one thing but I'm not sure this is the industry to diversify into. There are many ways of doing it without jeopardizing your main cash cow.