Heather Hunt, former Free National Movement candidate for the Marathon constituency, is demanding an apology from the government for not acting immediately to inform the residents of Marathon about the report concerning the gasoline leak at the nearby Rubis gas station.

In a statement released yesterday, Hunt said the environmental report from Black and Veatch International on the negative impact of leaked chemicals from the Rubis gas station on Old Trail and Robinson Roads, should have been made public immediately and steps to remediate the problem should have all been made public as well.

Following an underground gasoline leak at the gas station in 2012, Black and Veatch completed a report in 2014, and revealed that high levels of benzene, a cancer causing compound, was found in a well in May 2013.

Even though the report was completed in 2014, it was released following a town meeting last Thursday, after Marathon residents demanded answers concerning their exposure to the cancer causing compound.

Therefore, Hunt would like an apology from the government and she would like the Minister of the Environment Kenred Dorsett to give a full account to the public on the circumstances surrounding what she calls a “cover up.”

“Like many residents of the Marathon constituency, I am shocked and stunned that the PLP (Progressive Liberal Party) government suppressed and hid from the residents and business persons of Marathon information which has a direct impact on their health and the wellbeing of their children and guests,” Hunt said.

She is also calling on the Member of Parliament for Marathon Jerome Fitzgerald to explain why “he has been negligent in his duties as a representative, to publicly inform his constituents of this grave danger to their health.”