Of course there is oil!

The same oil that Trinidad is pumping out of the ground runs all the way up to Barbados. at the below link there is an interesting quotation….

“He explained yesterday that it followed a geological trend, of prospective oil, which runs straight through TTDAA 28 and TTDAA 29 which extends straight up to Barbados.”

http://www.stabroeknews.com/2012/news/regional/04/30/dispute-over-offshore-blocks-between-tt-grenada-2/

And when Owen took the Trini’s to the UN you all thought it was about fish!

“Could be resolved over a bowl of corn soup” indeed!

The BUOC leases can be found in most land conveyances and mortgages after the owners leased the lands to it.

The reference usually is found in a whereas clause where the land is described as subject to the unexpired terms of the BUOC lease.

My impression is that this occurred across the length and breath of Barbados. I think there is a map in the archives showing all the lands leased to BUOC.

The Scotland District with its “oozing oil” in some parts suggested that it was an oil laden area …. it wasn’t.

Oil comes out of the ground (kind of like the Beverly Hilbillies) in areas such as the Hill Plantation on the way down to Bawden and River and in the Back River “ravine” to the east of Turner’s Hall Woods.

For centuries it has been collected and used as medicine … Green Tar”. I have a friend who swears by it!!

I suspect the BUOC leased most lands in Barbados to secure its position from interlopers while it explored.

No doubt the owners of the lands appreciated the fact they received some small cash value for signing the lease and still remained the owners of the land.

The BUOC in turn did not have to find the capital to purchase the land.

Win win!!

Oil has mostly been found in the Valley, sometimes referred to nowadays as the St. George Valley but in fact this geologic feature goes right through St. Philip and St. Michael and is probably more properly known as The Valley, its name from the year dot.

@John

Why do some of us try to explain everything without trying to pursue ‘what if’ based on observation even when fact based info is not yet available? Trinidad a few miles away from Oistins has signed an agreement with Venezuela which challenges our rights off the coast of Oistins. What is in the water ?

@John

Surely you are aware that the ‘whatif’ term used above should be taken in the context of a less than nascent oil exploration program. Yet we ‘observe’ all and sundry around us are currently aggressive pursuing a program. But as Bajans we can continue to be ambivalent about these things.

@John | April 30, 2012 at 12:49 PM | I had no idea until I read it here on BU that there were Trinidadian and Guyanese interests talking about oil exploration and excavation in Barbados and David was pressing me to provide more details on a comment that I had, largely unwittingly, made, based on information that I had accidentially come across in the Department of Archives about three years ago. I found it interesting as I got family that live in that area of Oistins and I wondered if they had ever realised that those lands were once subject to a lease. So, I made a call and was asked to take down the details,which I did. We had a laugh about it, because I remember when I was a child there were oil derricks up by Kent. I got lucky and discovered that the notes I had taken for the family had been kept and I was able to give the details to David.

Of course you are right when you say there is a lot of “what’s in it for me” negotiations going on before we poor taxpayers are allowed to know about it. Naturally!!! But now hopefully the landowners are better placed to ask the same question when people try to buy their land for a song.

I find it incredible that Trinidad should have the testicular foretitude to try and claim oil rights – or any other rights – just 40 miles off the south coast of Barbados. Would they also have started arresting Bajan fishermen catching flying fish within sight of their own country?

Is it reasonable to expect to get a communication on this matter from the government?

Can we expect an active opposition to pressure government on this matter?

Found this reference to the occurence of petroleum and Manjack in a scanned online book by Harrison/Jukes-Browne.

“Petroleum and Asphalt. — We have already alluded (p. 14) to
the occurrence of large quantities of petroleum in the clays and
sandstones of the Scotland District. At present the industry of
collecting and refining this substance is in a languishing condition,
and it is chiefly employed as a lubricant and as a constituent in
certain quack medicines. But we believe that it might become of great importance to the planters as a fuel for use in the sugar
works. It might be tried in the present furnaces by steeping the
cane trash in the petroleum, but to obtain the full advantage of its
use special furnaces would probably have to be constructed. As a
matter of supply, we think that larger quantities would be obtained
if wells were sunk to the north-west of Springfield, and especially
in the tract of country between Bissex Hill and the great fault
which traverses the St. Andrew’s Valley.

In the same strata there are small deposits of asphaltum or pitch
glance, a substance which is known locally by the name of manjack,
and has often been mistaken for coal. It differs from coal in being
fusible by heat, and in being soluble in alcohol, turpentine, &c.

.Unfortunately very large quantities of this substance occur in
Trinidad and elsewhere, and consequently it is not likely that the
Barbadian deposits will ever have much commercial value. It is
the basis of black varnishes such as ” Brunswick Black,” and
excellent black varnishes and paints can easily be prepared from it
by dissolving it in spirits of turpentine, and adding to the solution
a small quantity of linseed oil to reduce its brittleness when dried.

It might be used with considerable advantage for making gas,
but on account of its fusibility special arrangements would be
required in order to carbonize it. “

I gots nuff experience wid Trinis, all my life. Most nuttn but trouble. Dem people can BOAST!! Some call it LYING!!! Little Texas dey call demselves. HA! So much money they are throwing down the drain there at home and they still want most of ours – and they wonder why we call them Trickidadians.

Hardy Har har

If it is something called Hydraulic fracturing Barbados locals and government should be well aware to stay away.Companies using what is called “Fracking” here in the US has had increased earthquakes in places where there wasn’t any!!!!

David how about telling us what jumped out of the bag when a caller revealed a private conversation with Kellman. You hinted at OIL please elaborate thanks.

The Trinidadians told Grenada the controversial new blocks are near the maritime border with Barbados. Dont you think Barbados should take active interest in this new Trini claim?
;;;;;;;;;;

Trini Express -The boundary was agreed upon in 2008 by former prime minister Patrick Manning and Grenadian Prime Minister Tillman Thomas.
On Sunday, Ramnarine had said there was no potential conflict with Blocks 28 and 29 recently put up for bid and that the blocks were closer to the Barbados maritime boundary which both T&T and Barbados agreed to.
Despite this, his ministry had previously set up a team to review the boundary issue with the Grenadian Government.