Oil is spilling upon the beaches and the fragile marshes of the  Louisiana Gulf Coast and anger is pouring from the lips of some  high Louisiana officials over the BP oil spill crises.  In fact,  one,  Billy Nungesser, the outspoken President of Plaquemines Parish is going so far as using the words, “criminal” and “jail” when describing those he feels are standing in the way of fixing the problem. 

Nungesser, is seeing oil threatening the ecosystems, economy and way of life of his parish and emotionally shared his perspectives when I interviewed him yesterday after a  press conference in Venice Louisiana, a stone’s throw from  the Mississippi’s mouth.   At that event, Governor Bobby Jindal, Nungesser and other parish officials were very vocal in describing what they feel is the lack of vital cooperation and direction from BP and certain federal officials.  

When asked about the slow circuitous process that is exasperating local public officials and Louisiana citizens, as each day of the crises goes by, Nungesser said U.S. Coast Guard Commandant, Thad Allen, should “step up” take better control of the oil spill operation.  In the past week,  the oil  has impacted over 60 miles of the Louisiana coast.   He felt Allen should appoint someone to improve the communications with the various parishes and to speed up the oil prevention and cleanup process. The parish president also commented  that there was no leadership.   

Nungesser also discussed a conversation he had with Coast Guard Rear Admiral Mary Landry and an executive from U.S. Coast Guard Commandant, Thad Allen’s office.   He said during the phone call, he felt he hearing too many objections to plans he and relevant state and parish officials endorsed.  As a result, Nungesser said that he stated on the phone  there was no leadership from those on the other side of the phone call and then hung up.  However, the disagreement did not end there.  Nungesser said he received a return phone call from one of the two parties who then complained about his talking to the media which that caller said  violated  a “confidential”  conversation.   Nungesser said the conversation was not confidential.  He also said he stressed that transparency in the entire BP crises was essential. 

Regarding the lack of approval of an emergency permit to build up the Louisiana barrier islands, Nungesser is nonplussed over the plan’s sudden lack of approval which he once thought was on the fast track.  In fact, he is quite suspicious saying “something stinks” and “they were told to hold that permit up for some reason”. 

Nungesser closed the impromptu interview, referring to those holding up progress on the  operation claiming “its criminal, they ought to go to jail”.   

Watch the video and tell us what you think: