Audreyanna Thomas, who is opposing plans for an oil waste processing plant at Coverden has complained to the police about abusive messages she has received in connection with the project.
On September 1st, she submitted a complaint to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) concerning a series of abusive and threatening WhatsApp messages received from a local number.
According to a press statement from Thomas, her decision to approach the CID was driven by the abusive content of the messages she received on August 24 and September 1, 2024. The latter communications appear to be linked to an article in Stabroek News on September 1, 2024, titled “Coverden residents pledge to up action against oil waste facility.” In the messages, the sender says “we were there undercover. You are a racist of a woman.”
Thomas emphasized to SN that her actions are driven by a commitment to respect and dignity for Coverden residents, not by any form of discrimination as alleged in the messages “You don’t understand the damages you’ve done to your own reputation here and you will struggle to get work going forward”. She said that the abusive messages do not facilitate constructive dialogue or build trust between the community and the company managing the waste treatment facility.
Thomas asserted that Coverden residents’ rights must be preserved, and their voices should be integral to decisions affecting their lives and environment. She shared these views in an interview with Stabroek News, indicating that an officer was expected to contact her at the Brickdam Police Station for an official statement. Thomas expressed concern that the recent intimidating messages were part of a broader attempt to silence her advocacy.
She highlighted a perceived disconnect between Guyana’s legal and policy frameworks, arguing that investment laws seem to overshadow environmental and human rights regulations.
To address these issues, Thomas plans a forty-day period of fasting and prayer from September 15 to October 24, 2024, to draw attention to the community’s plight. She will also submit a petition opposing the waste facility at Coverden to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and has invited the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to assess potential impacts on local land use and sustainable agriculture. Additionally, she plans to support the Red Thread protest on the issue scheduled for today and may consider legal measures in the future. Thomas aims to address regulatory shortcomings and advocate for a more balanced approach to environmental and community welfare in Guyana.
The facility is intended to process waste from offshore oil and gas drilling operations. Despite its approval, there has been controversy regarding the waiver of the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) requirement, based on a previous decision by the EPA in 2021.
