In a marathon hearing lasting just under five hours, the Caribbean Court of Justice yesterday heard arguments in the appeal filed by political commentator Ramon Gaskin, who has over the years strongly argued that separate environmental permits were not granted to Hess Guyana Exploration Ltd (Hess) and China National Offshore Oil Cooperation Guyana (CNOOC) for what he says is their involvement in oil production here.
The battery of attorneys representing the two companies, however, equally, strongly refute the position advanced by Gaskin (the Appellant), that being a joint venture by Hess and CNOOC, those companies would be covered by virtue of their operation under Esso (an ExxonMobil subsidiary) which is the developer.
Before the five-member panel of judges at the in-person hearing, the issue which consumed the attention of the apex court was the contention held by Gaskin, presented by his lawyers that the single environmental permit granted to Exxon-Mobil’s local subsidiary Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (Esso), could not cover Hess and CNOOC.
