The independent administrator of the $20 billion fund set up by British energy giant BP Plc to compensate victims of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill vowed on Sunday to make sure every eligible claim is quickly paid. Appearing on NBC's “Meet the Press,” administrator Kenneth Feinberg also rejected Republican US Representative Joe Barton's complaint last week that the fund amounts to a government “shakedown” of BP for the worst US oil spill in history. “I don't think it helps to politicize this program,” Feinberg added.” A yacht outing has landed BP chief Tony Hayward in more hot water, unleashing fresh criticism of his handling of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill and overshadowing modest progress in containing the disaster. The White House and environmental groups were quick to lash out at Hayward's latest mishap after he was sighted at the JP Morgan Asset Management Round The Island Race, which sees hundreds of yachts race around the Isle of Wight off England's south coast. “Well, to quote Tony Hayward, he's got his life back, as he would say,” White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel said, referencing the BP boss's now-notorious slip. “And I think we can all conclude that Tony Hayward is not going to have a second career in PR (public relations) consulting,” he told ABC's “This Week” in excerpts of an interview to be broadcast Sunday.
