Leaking oil adds to discomfort on Guyana’s east coast

An oily film covers the area and sections of the main
road near this Texaco gas station

by Norman 'Gus' Thomas 
Caribbean Net News Senior Correspondent

Friday, January 28, 2005

GEORGETOWN, Guyana: The seeping of oil from a service station into the floodwaters at Strathspey on the East Coast Demerara in Guyana is not only creating greater discomfort for the residents but posing a hazard to the traffic as an oily film now covers sections of the main road.

Having spent some 13 days living with flooded and unhealthy conditions as a result of the flood, many residents on the East Coast of Demerara are expressing a feeling of being tired of waiting for the waters to recede and some have begun to leave for "drier areas.". 

One resident, Rohini Jainarine, who lives across from the Texaco Service station where the oil is believed to be seeping from, told members of the press that the problem is believed to be coming from the underground storage tanks. 

According to Jainarine, a number of vehicles have skidded when speeding and she wants the authorities to erect a warning sign alerting drivers of the hazard. "Next thing you know there would be a major accident or even a fire," said she, adding that the strong smell of the oil is making residents in the area nauseous and affects breathing. 

"We already living in chaos but this is making it more chaotic," she said. 

Meanwhile, the General Manager of Texaco (Guyana) Colin Richmond has carried out an inspection of the area but said he does not know where the oily substance floating about is coming from but is still carrying out an investigation. 

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