Attorney-at-law Andrew Pilgrim Q.C. speaking to farmers from Pegwell and Gibbons Boggs, Christ Church during a meeting at Allan Villa, Gibbons Boggs yesterday.
Farmers at Pegwell and Gibbons Boggs and other immediate Christ Church areas are calling on multi-national giant Shell to compensate them for contamination of their water wells, which have severely affected their crop production.
Yesterday, during a meeting with prominent attorney-at-law Andrew Pilgrim Q.C., at Allan Villa, Gibbons Boggs, angered and frustrated farmer, suffering losses as a result of an aviation fuel leak on their lands, said while some have been compensated by the oil company, they are yet to receive their due.
Emotions ran high at the almost two-hour long meeting, as farmers spoke openly about how they were forced to abandon their bread and butter because the yields have dropped significantly since the problem was detected many years ago.
Many of them did not hold back how they feel about the issue which they said has been going on for many years.
They expressed gratitude to Pilgrim, letting him know that they were happy he has taken up the challenge of helping them to fight the legal battle; they eventually hope they will win.
Several years ago, some farmers were compensated after Shell faced two lawsuits over the impact the 1995 and 2003 aviation jet A-1 fuel leaks from its Grantley Adams International Airport/Oistins Terminal pipeline had on acres of farmland and on communities.
Pilgrim vowed to work along with other attorneys to represent more than 30 farmers whom have not yet been compensated for the on-going losses and challenges they are facing.
He said the plan is to now see exactly who is on board, noting that there are already cases before the court, but have been stalled for reasons “that aren’t entirely clear to me”.
“They are unable now to grow and work this land in the way they were able to do in the past. And they have seen that other people have been compensated and they obviously would like to be compensated.
“More importantly, I think they are very clear that they want something to be done so that any negative effects and impacts on the land can now be addressed.
“We want all people that have been affected negatively to approach their lawyers... to just get this ball rolling so that we can have it resolved because it is too long outstanding,” Pilgrim said.
Edwin Warner, who has put down his farming tools since 15 years ago, due to the losses as it relates to crop production, indicated that he did not attend yesterday’s meeting to “beg Shell”.
“I come to tell Shell that they owe me,” he said.
“That is the bottom line. Shell owes me, and I would like them to pay me my money. They were wrong, all the evidence is there to prove it, what are they waiting for. I come to tell shell they owe me,” Warner added.
Resident Andrew Parris said while he too wanted to be compensated as soon as possible, he was concerned about the health effects the contaminated wells would have on residents living in the area. Parris said he was willing to move out of the area, but do not have the finance to do so.
Opposition Barbados Labour Party (BLP) Senator Wilfred Abrahams, also a former president of the Bar Association, encouraged the gathering to seek legal advice, reaffirming that the situation has been going on for too long.
“I believe things like this need to be resolved one way or the other... I am glad that Mr. Pilgrim and his team did what they did because people need to be aware of the rights and know that they have a choice to exercise them or not to exercise them.
“You hear the heart-wrenching stories of what has happened. You hear people who depend on agriculture being unable to make a living.
“If you can’t farm on the land that is only zoned for agriculture then the land is worth nothing to you. At some point in time there needs to be a full scale settlement of the matter that is of benefit to all concerned,” Senator Abrahams said. (AH)