30,000 Gallons Oil Spill in The Bahamas

A 30,000 gallon oil spill was reported in the Exuma waters between yesterday and this morning, according to acting prime minister Chester Cooper.

“My information is that sometime last night between 5 p.m. and 4 a.m. a vessel, The Arabian, contracted for Sun Oil was offloading fuel to BPL in the area of the Old Navy Base, in George Town, and this morning it was confirmed that there was a significant spill to the tune of 30,000 gallon,” said Copper in the House of Assembly.

“We are advised at the moment that the oil is contained in the bay the area of the Exuma Sailing Club,” said acting prime minister Cooper.An update will be forthcoming, according to a representative who told The Independent that representatives from The Bahamas were visiting the spill's location on Wednesday morning.

The Bahamas' Great Exuma island is home to George Town, where tourism plays a significant role in the local economy.

Acting prime minister Cooper gave the assurance that the administration is focusing on to “ensure that the matter is mitigated at best as possible in the shortest possible time.

”The officials have not yet provided any information on how the oil spill would affect the environment.