Dear Editor,
BK International Inc wishes to clarify the sensational article that appeared in the Kaieteur News of Saturday, January 24, 2009 which seeks to convey the false impression that somehow BK International was responsible for the so-called contamination of fuel supplies delivered by BK’s vessel to GPL’s power station in Essequibo. As a result of the meeting held with the GPL management on January 19, 2009, it was agreed that a series of tests would be conducted on the fuel to ascertain the facts.
BK International and Guyana Power & Light have sent samples of the fuel to Trinidad & Tobago for comprehensive testing. It is, therefore, premature to speculate on these matters in the absence of results. Suffice it to say, that the precise amount of fuel uplifted from GPL was delivered and at all times, GPL security was aboard the vessel securing the product. It is also clear that any possible contamination could have been in the fuel at the time it was uplifted because no tests were done at the time the product was uplifted. The fuel supplies were also handled by a third party in Essequibo who uplifted the fuel from the vessel for onward delivery to GPL’s plant. Samples from the GPL tank and our vessel were sent to Macorp for testing and both samples were confirmed to be same. We are also sending samples to the UG laboratory for further testing to confirm the percentage of water in the fuel whilst we are awaiting the results from the samples sent to Trinidad & Tobago.
BK’s vessel, the MT New Horizons is fully certified by the Guyana Maritime Bureau Inc, Surveyor of Ships, appointed by the Government of Guyana for the carriage of fuel and it has been so doing to many countries in the Caribbean, South America and Trinidad for many years and was never rejected by Trinidad.
In the circumstances, BK International rejects categorically the allegations contained in the Kaieteur News article and restates its commitment to cooperate with the Guyana Power &Light to get to the bottom of the matter. BK is convinced that based upon the pre-loading exercises conducted by BK and GPL and the security precautions involved, in no way can it be held responsible for the so-called contamination, particularly in the absence of definitive tests and a completed investigation into all the circumstances surrounding the issues.
Yours faithfully,
Egan R. Bazilio
Office Manager
BK Marine Inc
