The Prosecutor’s Office in Sint Maarten (OM SXM) has launched a preliminary criminal investigation into the major oil spill that occurred on Tuesday in the vicinity of the Cay Bay power plant of the utility company N.V GEBE.
In a statement, it notes the spill has led to an oil slick moving from Cay Bay/Simpson Bay into the Caribbean Sea.
OM SXM met on Wednesday with the Dutch Caribbean Coastguard, the Police Force Sint Maarten KPSM, the Inspection Department of the Ministry of Public Housing, Spatial Development, Environment and Infrastructure VROMI, and the Maritime Inspection Department of the Ministry of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transportation, and Telecommunication (TEATT).
This was done to coordinate activities and launch the preliminary criminal investigation.
It says as the procedure is in the beginning phases, no further information about the investigation is available at this time.