President of Guyana David Granger Wednesday acknowledged that American oil company ExxonMobil had paid over US$18 million as a signing bonus to his government.
It confirmed a disclosure by the oil company last weekend, but Granger said that his administration had not meant to deceive the Guyanese about the payment. “It is a legitimate government of Guyana exercise. It is in the Bank of Guyana in an escrow account … the money was not dishonestly acquired and will not be used for purposes not intended,” the president told reporters.