Kaieteur News – International lawyer, Melinda Janki, told Kaieteur News that the ruling of the High Court, bringing Exxon’s Liza-1 environmental permit into conformity with the law, is very important because it shows that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and ExxonMobil are subject to Guyana’s laws.
“That’s a win for the people of Guyana. This was a public interest case to protect Guyana.” Janki told Kaieteur News in an invited comment.
Former President of Transparency Institute Guyana Inc., Dr Troy Thomas, had brought the issue to the court, arguing that the permit was granted for a duration exceeding the five-year limit provided for in law. The court’s ruling, by Justice Joanne Barlow, has brought forward the expiry of the permit from 2040 to 2021, at which point, Exxon will require a new permit to continue its operations at the Liza-1 project.
The Liza-1 is the first in line of projects for off-shore production projects by ExxonMobil and its partners.
It started production late last year.
In this regard, like the Oil & Gas Governance Network (OGGN)’s Darshanand Khusial, Janki noted that the ruling of the court gives citizens opportunities now to demand better from the EPA and the Government for the management of the sector.
“The law does not allow the EPA to ignore people and do what the EPA wants instead.” Janki explained. “So let us have people across the country, across the political divide, taking action to protect themselves and their children, grandchildren, friends, neighbours, communities and their livelihoods.”
See more here: https://www.kaieteurnewsonline.com/2020/11/01/ruling-on-liza-permit-shows-exxon-epa-not-above-the-law-intl-lawyer-melinda-janki/