Doubts raised over Dominica oil refinery

by Paul Charles

Thursday, January 29, 2004

ROSEAU, Dominica: Lawyers for opponents of an oil refinery in Dominica told reporters here on Tuesday that the would-be investors Global Resources Corporation (GRC) may be incapable of delivering the goods. 

Mr. Jacob Sherr of the Natural Resources Defense Council said after one month of investigations they found little evidence that the company is functional.

''It's inconceivable to us that a corporation this large with supposedly 146 employees and projects in over forty countries has not left a trace, we're talking about a company that intends to raise 2.4 billion dollars,'' he disclosed. 

Minister for Enterprise Development Charles Savarin has been promoting the oil refinery issue but the US attorneys contracted by the Castle Bruce Farmer Development Committee said the Virginia-based Corporation may be worth US$53,000.

Speaking on behalf of the government, Press Secretary Sean Douglas explained that the ruling administration has not signed any contract with the GRC and duly diligence will be done.

''To date no land has been transferred and no money has been paid to the government of Dominica with respect to establishment of an oil refinery in Dominica,'' he noted.

Mr. Douglas added that the investors will be back in Dominica in March to continue discussions on a multi-billion dollar project in the eastern village of Castle Bruce where farmers are divided over the issue of selling their farm lands to the GRC. 

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