Oil Pollution Bill 2025 signals Govt’s commitment to environment – PM

…legislation to strengthen national oil spill preparedness, response, accountability
…Opposition refuses to support Bill

In a decisive move to safeguard Guyana’s environment, the Government has tabled the Oil Pollution Prevention, Preparedness, Response and Responsibility Bill 2025, a sweeping piece of legislation that mandates strict oil spill prevention, emergency response protocols, and clear accountability for polluters.

However, despite its alignment with international conventions such as the International Convention on Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response and Cooperation (OPRC), the Opposition has refused to back the Bill.

The Bill, passed on Friday evening during a sitting of the National Assembly, has been hailed by Prime Minister (PM) Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips as a push for national development. The PM emphasised that the legislation will play a pivotal role in safeguarding Guyana’s environment, affirming the Government’s long-term commitment to responsible resource management and environmental protection.

“This legislation is not only essential but timely,” Phillips stated, “as Guyana continues to emerge as a major oil-producing nation. The Bill provides a robust framework to prevent, mitigate, and respond to oil pollution incidents, and ensures those responsible are held financially and legally accountable.”
“The Bill is forward-looking; it is a response to the increasing scale of petroleum operations and shipping activities within Guyana’s waterways, and it cannot underscore the potential environmental risks. This Bill positions Guyana’s legal infrastructure to comply with regional and international best practices. The long title of the Bill reflects its core objectives to make provision for preventative, restorative, and compensatory measures relating to oil spill incidents; to provide for preparedness, response, cooperation, and financial responsibility; and to formally establish a competent national authority tasked with oversight and enforcement responsibilities,” PM added.
Drawing from international best practices, PM Phillips cited landmark legislation such as the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA 90) in the United States (US) and the Merchant Shipping (Pollution) Act 2006 of the United Kingdom (UK). He also referenced Nigeria’s national approach via NOSDRA–all underscoring the importance of enforcement, accountability, and state oversight.
One of the most notable aspects of the Bill is the formal recognition of the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) as the Competent National Authority for oil spill response, correcting what the PM called a “legal gap” in the country’s disaster preparedness structure.
Under the Bill, the Director-General of the CDC will serve as the National Incident Commander in the event of a spill.
He will be supported by the Director of the Maritime Administration Department and the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Guyana Energy Agency (GEA), responsible for offshore and onshore responses, respectively. The Guyana Coast Guard will serve as the lead response unit for maritime spills.
Another, major feature of the legislation is the strict imposition of financial responsibility on the “responsible party” — the entity responsible for the spill, who will be legally obligated to bear all cleanup costs, pay for environmental restoration, and settle legitimate claims from affected individuals.
“Guyana must learn from the successes and shortcomings of these frameworks,” Phillips said. “We are building not just a legislative document but an operational system that includes institutional capacity, emergency funding, and independent oversight.”
“This provision shifts the burden away from taxpayers and places it firmly where it belongs — on the polluter,” Phillips said, noting that any failure to comply could result in penalties of up to $2 billion”.
Non-support
Meanwhile, Opposition Member of Parliament Shurwayne Holder delivered a blistering critique of the legislation, declaring it a “hoax and a sham” designed to give cover to oil companies at the expense of Guyana’s national interest.
During his address to the National Assembly, Holder argued that the bill fails to guarantee comprehensive liability and instead allows limited liability companies to evade responsibility in the event of a major spill. “Mr Speaker, in concluding, in concluding, this oil pollution prevention, preparedness, response, and responsibility bill is nothing but a hoax and a sham. It has to be seen for what it is: applying to give critical support to the oil companies, placing their interests and the interests of the People’s Progressive Party above the collective interests, safety, and well-being of the people of Guyana. We cannot and will not support such a bill,” Holder said.