Some of the participants of the Oil Spill Response (OSR) workshop in Anguilla on June 7 and 8, 2016. Photo: Provided

Facilitator for the Oil Spill Response (OSR) workshop, Mr Roger Corbie (red suit) makes a point as Regional General Manager of Delta Petroleum Bevis A. Sylvester (right) and others listen attentively. Photo: Provided

Mr Leroy Moses (right) was one of the participants of the workshop from the Virgin Islands. Photo: Provided

The workshop was conducted by Delta Petroleum and hosted by Island Manager, Mrs Mavis John, with Regional General Manager, Bevis A. Sylvester and Chief Operating Officer Mr David Fulwider among those in attendance.

Facilitator for the training was Mr Roger Corbie, for IRP Ltd out of Trinidad.

The OSR Training catered for two islands, Anguilla and the Virgin Islands (VI).

The VI participants were Damien Lettsome, Leroy Moses, Bashirundin Hidar and James Stoutt while the Anguilla participants were Andy Hodge, Miguel Hodge, Delvin Burford and Cecil Carty.

Delta Petroleum, noting its close proximity with SOL in Anguilla, also invited this company to participate in the training.

The workshop focused on deploying oil spill equipment in the event of an emergency, the strategies to be implemented when deploying and factors to be considered - such as wave action, winds direction, and sensitive areas to be protected.

According to a press release from Delta Petroleum, the workshop was very well accepted by the Government of Anguilla and pertinent agencies such as the Fire Department, Disaster Management and Environment Department were in attendance.

This two day workshop commenced with theory on the first day and a practical session on the second day.

The latter entailed the viewing and examining of component parts of the oil spill boom. Participants also had the opportunity to have a first hand and practical handling exercise as to how to deploy the boom.

Better able to respond to an oil spill

Damien Lettsome, Operations Supervisor, VI, speaking at the conference said that having completed this training, he is more equipped to deal with an oil spill, if, God forbids, one occurs. He stated that the knowledge that he has acquired during this two day period will most definitely help him prepare and act in the event that such unwanted situation occurred.

Similar sentiments were shared by Bashirundin Hidar, one of the participants representing Delta Petroleum VI.

“I think the Delta team is now better prepared mentally and physically to handle an oil spill, whether it be in Delta Petroleum or any one of the competitors because at the end of the day the main objective is to protect the environment. We did have some training in oil spill before but not as in-depth as this one was,” Hidar told Virgin Islands News Online.

Regional General Manager Mr Sylvester stated that he too was happy that he spent the two day period in this workshop, for he has gleamed much knowledge. This knowledge he said has made him feel much more comfortable that his team can act and respond accordingly and responsibly in the event that there happens to be an oil spill.

He went on to thank Mrs John for hosting the team in Anguilla, the Management of SOL for allowing their Maintenance Officer/Truck Driver, Mr Morton to participate in the training and the Government of Anguilla via their various agencies for their involvement.

Meanwhile, Mr David Fulwider, Chief Operating Officer stated that this is the first step in the direction of completing a comprehensive Oil Spill Response plan, which will fit into the Government’s National Oil Spill Plan. He stated that he intends to meet with agencies of each island where Delta operates to ensure that Delta emergency plans are in sync with the national plans of these islands.