Monday, April 30, 2012

Offshore fields don't encroach on Grenada's maritime boundary: Energy Minister

Grenada's cabinet is meeting Monday to discuss its ongoing talks with Trinidad & Tobago with respect to issues related to maritime boundaries.

The Express newspaper reported Monday that the Grenadian finance minister is leading the talks with Port of Spain. It said Prime Minister Tillman Thomas said the Minister, Nazim Burke "will say something to the media" after Monday's meeting.

The Express reported on Sunday that technocrats have raised concerns that there remain unresolved issues with the maritime agreement with Grenada that could affect the country's offshore oil interests. 

The paper said the concerns are over blocks TTDAA 28 and TTDAA 29. The T&T energy ministry opened the blocks for bids last week. 

Energy Minister kevin Ramnarine announced that the Government has already received 20 nominations for the six deep water blocks up for bid at this year's Deepwater Competitive Bidding Round.

The Express said technical personnel have also said they are also concerned about the implications of this country's continental shelf as it relates to Guyana and Venezuela.

Grenada entered into an agreement in 2008 that marked the common continental shelf between Trinidad and Tobago and Grenada.

Ramnarine issued a statement Sunday in which he stated that blocks 28 and 29 do not encroach on any maritime space related to Grenada. 

He said they lie within Trinidad and Tobago's maritime jurisdiction and are in fact either close to or adjoin the Trinidad and Tobago/Barbados maritime boundary.

"The Trinidad and Tobago/Barbados maritime boundary was determined by the Arbitral Tribunal of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on April 11 2006. This decision is final and has been accepted and adopted by both countries," he said.

"Given the seriousness of this matter, the potential negative economic consequences for the country, and the damage to our international reputation, the Ministry of Energy and Energy Affairs will be issuing a more detailed statement in due course," he added.

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Jai & Sero

Jai & Sero

Our family at home in Toronto 2008

Our family at home in Toronto 2008
Amit, Heather, Fuzz, Aj, Jiv, Shiva, Rampa, Sero, Jai