Even as a number of experts have advised that Guyana’s citizenry plan for a diversified economy and not be dependent on the petroleum sector, several properties near a proposed local shore base are up for sale.
In January, Danco Logistical Contractors Inc (Danco) and Consolidated Supply Management (CSM) of the United Kingdom signed an agreement that would see them building and operating a shore base at an eight-acre site at Lot 233-235 Buzz Bee Dam, Craig, East Bank Demerara.
The facility, according to its investors, is expected to be transformed into a US$18 million CSM-Danco facility, which they hope will provide support to oil and gas operators and their prime contractors here.
The area has been leveled and is now fenced but it is unclear what are the immediate plans.
The Environmental Protection Agency is still to give clearance to the facility, which is located close to the village’s koker that controls water flow to the backlands where some farms are located.
A visit by Stabroek News to Buzz Bee Dam last week revealed three homes in the vicinity of the proposed shore base up for sale.
The situation was first highlighted by letter writer Fazal Gafoor, who expressed shock at seeing some eight residences up for sale in the area recently.
“I reside at an East Bank Demerara village not too far from Buzz Bee Dam, Craig, and a few weeks ago I travelled through Buzz Bee Dam. Buzz Bee Dam has always been a very quiet farming and residential community. There are some poultry farms in the area that co-exist with the residents in a friendly and peaceful atmosphere,” he wrote in a letter to Stabroek News.
“On my trip through Buzz Bee Dam, I was very surprised to see at least eight properties for sale within a short distance from the main road, and this included a church, and I was quick to ask myself what was driving the folks there to dispose of their properties. Most are on extremely small plots of land and are not likely to be appealing to people with business ventures. Not so long ago I learnt from the print media that a sub-contractor of ExxonMobil was in the process of setting up a huge yard on Buzz Bee Dam, Craig to offer storage and logistical support to the growing oil and gas industry,” he said.
Gafoor had pointed to the narrow street, no wider than 12 feet, as he pondered how appropriate the area is for such a facility. “I can assume that in the coming days the people in the area would experience heavy traffic delays as tractor-trailers would be traversing the narrow road as they conduct their businesses. I know that for such a large-scale project, permissions are required from the NDC and Central Housing and Planning, but I am not too certain if permission has to be also sought from the Environmental Protection Agency. I would like to bring this issue to the attention of Mr Vincent Adams. In our rush to accommodate [investors], we must not forgo the quality of life and high standards of a modern society,” he said.
ExxonMobil has said that it recognises a potential market demand as companies continue to invest heavily in being able to provide onshore base services to operators in the oil and gas sector. How-ever, the company noted that it believes that the one it currently uses will be enough for its operations.
While they have not yet entered agreements with any of the offshore operators, some five companies have begun to or signaled interest in establishing shore bases here.
