Is it inconceivable for Barbadians to believe that its government, a sovereign government would find away to protect its environment and by extension its people using all measures possible?

In 2006/7, I offered Southern Farmers in a late nite business meeting at Gibbons Boggs to bring exposure to their plight in London – press releasing info to the networks as to what was going on in beautiful BARBADOS* – the gem of the Caribbean, the playground of the filthy rich & infamous – the land in which kings, queens and commoners dwell in salubrious harmony…

Further to those discussions, the corrupt, morally bankrupt, self-serving lawyers who were playing both sides of the fence – in bed with SHELL* (while enjoying kickbacks and limitless largesse) yet pretending to be representing the interests of the farmers as they continued to finagle and dupe using stalling tactics, lies and legal aberrations as excuses to do precious little …

Before leaving Barbados, I was threatened in broad daylight in the stampede that is B’Town (information which I am not privy to reveal) and warned to back off with a similar reminder coming in its heels while back in the UK where I got a phone call from a private number warning me to desist unless…

Until today, I have not divested any real details as to what was said but the insinuation was clear and as I am sure that all of us who have families appreciate that if you are gonna’ be swimming with sharks – you betta’ have good harpoons as weapons…

This issue regarding SHELL* has been a personal matter to say the least and I am not the only person who gets rather sensitive or emotional over the matter…

Back in London in Nov’ 2006, I offered to file a WRIT* in the High Court at the Old Bailey against SHELL* on behalf of Southern Farmers and had contacted FRIENDS OF THE EARTH* to have them do an environmental impact study on the leakage of jet-fuel into the Barbados water table… This was to be an independently funded study which would have been in the interest of the Barbados government but was shot down by the conspirators who were dead-set on maintaining SHELL’s edge and corporate advantage…

The said crooked lawyers subliminally injected rumor-mongering as a way to obfuscate attempts to bring litigation from the Old Bailey in London as this would have undermined their skulduggery and their ongoing efforts to drink from the lucrative trough set up by SHELL*… Some were even arguing that my motives were simply to walk away with “HERO” status and a 10% commission…

My argument was clear! If the court ruled in favor of SOUTHERN FARMERS* and awarded $$$300 – 500 million including the cost of “CLEANUP” and legal fees (I had already solicited a law firm that had fought SHELL* in the past and won substantial financial redress) – it would be worth the hassle, the expense and the exposure…

But like good ‘ole BAJAN’s – infighting, lack of consensus and agreement stalled the process and halted any attempt in making this fiasco gain international momentum or traction and as anyone who know me personally, I was willing to be the voice of conscience arguing vociferously for justice not only for the farmers but for SHELL* to clean up the mess done to our water table which could have long term carcinogenic effects on the population… (case in point, the high levels of cancer and birth defects in Nigeria’s OGONI* region)…

Well, in short dear friends – a new government, a new PM but guaranteed it will be the same SHITE* – just a different day…

As the old adage goes – it’s what in the water!!!

LETTER TO SHELL’S CORPORATE DIVISION IN 2006…

SOUTHERN FARMERS
Gibbons
Christ church
Barbados

Attn: Managing Director
SHELL ANTILLES & GUIANAS LTD
P. O. Box 846E
Bridgetown

Date as Postmark

Dear Sir

This letter is part of the continued uncompromising state of affairs which still beats heavily between your company and us as no negotiated settlement, amelioration or consensus appears in sight.

This letter is another attempt at gaining compliance from Shell regarding the proposed drilling of several bore holes at specific geographical sites around the environmentally damaged and impacted areas within the 186 acre radius from Oistin’s to Gibbons.

Up to this moment in time, Shell has been less than transparent in its dealings with Southern Farmers. But this has been a global practice of a multinational corporation whose predatory behaviour has been nothing short of diabolical. Shell has continued on its pathway of doing everything possible to try to vindicate itself although it has admitted liability in this case.

We the farmers, have been grossly disaffected by [13] years of wrangling, face-saving and duplicity on the part of corporate lawyers and dodgy corporate executives who have been participatorial in this process resulting in us having to take the actions we are about to undertake to resolve this dilemma.

Firstly, we are demanding that any analysis of the underground water or geology through a series of bore holes be handled not only with the highest degree of health and safety due to possible incidences of bio-terror but that there must be a “tri-party” assessment of the analytical process where the government’s scientists, Shell’s people and our own independent scientists be allowed full access to measure and ascertain the full affects of what this leakage has caused to our underground water-table infrastructure.

The contemptible paradox which has continued unabated for the last [13] years still shows the level of blatant callousness and scant disregard Shell shows toward those countries, groups and persons which come up against them seeking compensation for crimes against the environment, not to mention, crimes against the human person. Now in a further escalation, they want to bore holes around the affected areas without due consultation or dialogue with Southern Farmers. This is unacceptable practice.

Shell has a long documented history of insidious pollution issues around the world. The impact on the Caribbean but notably here in Barbados has not come into the international limelight as yet. However, we are taking steps to change that situation immediately.

We have asked FRIENDS OF THE EARTH to assist us with analytical work as our independent advisors. Additional we know that Shell has in the past used their high-paid teams of international lawyers to halt, stall and even pervert due process and so we have undertaken to up the ante in this regards and are willing to file an injunction in the High Court in Barbados to halt the process of bore holes being drilled without our preconditions being met.

Shell must recognise that serious dialogue is needed in this case and that information dissemination is critical to the process of open and transparent dealings. The malicious tactics of the past and even the current malevolence must stop.

We will be mandating the government to allow the ERM (Environmental Resource Management) to come in to do the research needed so that a fair and balanced scientific risk assessment can be done. The government has a serious responsibility to its citizens who are for all intents and purposes, “the government”. The government cannot allow multinational corporations like Shell to ride roughshod over the rights of citizens in any countries regardless of their contribution to the economic fabric of that society.

We are therefore demanding a speedy and expeditious resolution to this entire process immediately. Shell has shown its reluctance in the past to observe the just tenets of due process, however, we the farmers shall not in anyway be obfuscating our responsibility to what we know is right and just.

Thank you for your acknowledgment of this letter and we look forward expectantly to a prompt response.

Yours sincerely

SOUTHERN FARMERS

Do you have grounds for a lawsuit against Shell? Have you, your firm or family been cheated or injured by Shell?

Posted by Royal Dutch Shell Plc.com at February 9th, 2007

If the answer to any of the above questions is yes, then you may find this article by John Donovan to be of interest…

The first difficulty faced by potential litigants considering suing Shell, is finding a law firm with the required resources which does not have a conflict of interest and is willing to confront an opponent quite literally prepared to stop at nothing.

In this connection we may be able to assist by providing introductions at law firms with a track record of winning cases against Shell, who may in some cases, be willing to work on a contingency fee basis.

The owners of this website have been participants in countless proceedings with Shell stretching back to 1993. We are currently involved in proceedings brought by EIGHT companies within the Royal Dutch Shell Group. A High Court hearing took place on 8 February 2007. The next is scheduled for 7 August.

Consequently, we know most Shell litigation moves including the use of:

* Unscrupulous solicitors e.g. (REDACTED NAME)
* Undercover “activity”
* Witness intimidation
* Threats
* Jurisdiction ploys
* Burying evidence
* Tampering with evidence
* Holding back discovery documents
* Manipulating the news media
* Hiding information about the litigation from Shell shareholders
* Dragging out litigation to drain the resources of a weaker opponent

Basically nothing is too low for Shell.

Knowing that other parties have had the same problems dealing with Shell can help psychologically and also possibly strengthen a case by providing what is known as “similar fact evidence”. This perhaps explains why one of Shell’s first actions in responding to a case is to ask that the case be sealed, preventing the court documents and documents relating to discovery from reaching the public domain.

Even where a case has been sealed, the initial petition is by definition in the public domain, since it was lodged with the court before the case was sealed. Shell does not want news of litigation to circulate in case it reaches the ears of another potential or actual litigant who might be able to supply or benefit from acquiring similar fact evidence.

It has therefore been suggested that we act as a repository of threatened or actual legal proceedings against Shell. This would enable us to compare cases to check for relevance to litigation already in our files and notify relevant parties accordingly, putting them into direct contact if both sides agree.

In the event of a pattern of Shell conduct being revealed, perhaps even involving the same Shell individuals, it might enable the cases to proceed more expeditiously and potentially even persuade Shell to settle out of court rather than allowing predatory conduct to be exposed in open court.

Consequently, if you have a legal grievance against Shell you are invited to report it to us. If legal documents are already in the public domain we will, with your permission, publish them. If the information is confidential we will only share it with another party with a similar grievance if you give us clearance to do so.

There are a number of options available to convey information depending on the degree of confidentiality involved.

It can be sent directly to me at: (redacted name)@shellnews.net

Or you can use a more secure form of transmission e.g.

http://www.anonymousspeech.com

The information will then be relayed to me at my email address.

Alternatively check out http://wikileaks.org/

You will shortly be able to post information and documents on this new facility designed to protect anonymity of documents. It is expected to become operational within a matter of weeks. If this service is used, you would need to tip me off to check the wikileaks.org website by perhaps posting a message on our Live Chat box e.g. “It might be worth a visit to wikileaks.org? “

For information about the wikileaks.org service check out the Time Magazine link below.

http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1581189,00.html

Our own experiences with Shell: At the beginning of our legal battles with Shell we knew nothing about such shady tactics but were well aware of the daunting challenge of taking on a multinational Goliath which has an army of in-house lawyers supported by unlimited financial resources and a ruthless unscrupulous management. We thought we were on our own in having to threaten litigation after a Shell manager stole our intellectual property. Then in a meeting I had with a Shell Chairman, he let it slip that other firms were also threatening to launch legal proceedings on the same basis about the same Shell national manager.

In other words, the Shell manager in question had been accused of stealing ideas from other parties who, like us, had disclosed information on a confidential basis believing they could trust Shell. The then Shell Chairman, Dr Chris Fay, claimed that he could not agree to settle our claim because it would set a precedent. This was a major concern in view of the fact that other potential litigants were pressing Shell. Royal Dutch Shell did later did settle for £200,000 – approximately $400,000.

THIS SHOULD GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF THE WHEELS THAT WERE IN MOTION SINCE 2006/7…

@BU.David: “Still maintain the government should have taken the lead in this fight given the environmental considerations.

Why would you trust the government to do the correct thing David?

Is there much precedent to encourage your trust?

@BU.David: “Don’t we live in the notion that our government is one of the people, by the people, for the people?

Not according to just half of the electorate…

And the opinion of the “just half” changes regularly — just like just about every where else….

@ DAVID

I would love to see a research study done (a survey of the health) over the last decade of the residents of the 183 acre affected area where this oil spill occured…

One of the things that concerns me is whether there have been spikes in the incidences of cancers, gastro-enteritis and diseases related to oil toxicity exposure…

For such a small island as Barbados with such pristine beauty – to be raped by a multinational in this manner is frankly reprehensible to say the least – but downright diabolical at worst given that for almost [2] decades (accepting no true liability in BIM* for what was done to poor farmers) yet this company continues to posture with its glitzy adverts purporting all things “green” while having “BLOOD” on its hands of innocent people around the world…

Here’s a THOUGHT* for the day!!!

JEFF RUBIN CANNOT BE IGNORED!!!

@ DAVID

This is a SERIOUS* area of debate!!!

What happens in BIM* when you guys have to suddenly pay $20/25 gallon at the pump…have to ration electricity like LAGOS, Nig., not be able to buy goods at affordable prices, you name it – what will be the end result?

Not social anarchy & chaos?

@TB

Vision and leadership is not something to be procured from the supermarket.

These are treasured qualities born of collective experiences by a people.

Our education is failing perhaps?

QUESTION DAVID? As it seems like this is a 2-way discourse this morning!!!

What are men like Nasser* doing in Barbados with all the properties he owns as well as the so-called business acumen they claim to have?

Or is a lil’ bit of pussy ruining their competitive advantage and like Assange leaking sperm when they ought to be using their real heads to offer the young minds in the society a fighting chance…

What is James Husbands and these guys like Clarke Energy Associates doing?

Getting richer no doubt but not really making a lasting impact and solid contribution to teach VISION*to the wider society in terms of what you addressed earlier in terms of not being able to acquire such from a supermarket shelf…

With a country so blessed with as much intellect, education and gravitas which we have – why are we still lagging so far behind?

What is it that is really missing or that we are missing as a people?

@TB

Many if not all of the names you mentioned have skulked to earn the label ‘creatures of the system’ be it political, corporate or both.