Opinion
Questions for AG on conflict between 2016 PSA and NRF Act (2021) on tax payments on behalf of oil companies
Since February 16, 2025, the Sunday Stabroek has published a series of weekly letters by the Oil and Gas Governance Network Guyana (OGGN) querying the questionable tax practices by oil companies and urging the Government of Guyana, its ministers, and public servants to answer questions regarding the flow of oil-related tax payments. Under the 2016…
Teixeira failed to address some core issues such as free access to information raised in OGGN’s letter
Reference is made to a press release dated March 17, 2025, issued by the Department of Information, titled “Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance Responds to OGGN.” Minister Gail Teixeira was responding to a letter from the Oil and Gas Governance Network (OGGN) Guyana, titled “Minister Teixeira Must Address UN Concerns on Access to Information…
The Ministry of Governance and Parliamentary Affairs has it all wrong
Every Man, Woman and Child in Guyana Must Become Oil-Minded -Column 154 Introduction By its very name, the Ministry of Governance and Parliamentary Affairs should defend and advance democracy, promote and ensure transparency, and strengthen and enforce accountability. Regrettably, the Ministry, in pursuit of the party’s agenda, is increasingly a convenient vehicle for political deflection…
Minister Teixeira must address UN concerns on Access to Information Act
In a series of letters published in the Sunday editions of Stabroek News (February 16 & 23, March 2 & 9, 2025), the Oil and Gas Governance Network Guyana (OGGN) informed the Guyanese public about questionable tax practices of ExxonMobil and its partners—Hess Corporation and China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC)—and raised concerns about the…
Finance Ministry must confirm whether it has provided relevant data on oil taxes for EITI reports
Guyana became a member of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) on October 25, 2017. Since then, the country has been expected to adhere to EITI standards by disclosing key financial data related to its extractive industries. The Oil and Gas Governance Network Guyana (OGGN) has consistently raised concerns about the lack of transparency regarding…
The Information Blackout: Oil Transparency and the Failure of Access to Information in Guyana
Introduction Guyana’s Constitution identifies access to information as a right – not a privilege. Yet, for a decade and more since the Access to Information Act was passed in 2011, this right has been treated with contempt. The Office of the Commissioner of Information’s ongoing obstructionism reflects more than a question of competence – it…
We call upon the Minister of Natural Resources to confirm he has paid these taxes as mandated by the 2016 PSA
The Oil and Gas Governance Network Guyana (OGGN) has previously raised critical concerns regarding the tax practices associated with the oil extraction operations of ExxonMobil and its partners – Hess Corporation and China National Offshore Oil Company (CNOOC) – in Guyana, as specified in the 2016 Petroleum Agreement, better known as the 2016 Production Sharing…
Mr Statia should say whether Minister made required tax payments on behalf of ExxonMobil and partners for 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023
Our letter entitled `There should be an investigation into ExxonMobil’s use of tax certificates issued under Guyana’s 2016 PSA’ (Stabroek News, February 16, 2025) raised important concerns about the issuance of tax certificates and the implications for Guyana’s oil revenues. One day before its publication, the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance, Gail Texeira expressed…
The Bahamas gets 15% tax on Guyana oil revenue and Guyana (like Piggy) gets none
The Bahamas gets 15% tax on Guyana oil revenue and Guyana (like Piggy) gets none “The OECD/G20’s Pillar Two framework mandates that all in-scope MNEs (multi-national enterprises) pay a minimum effective tax rate of 15% on profits in each jurisdiction. The Bahamas must act decisively to ensure that these taxes are collected here, rather than…
Investment Committee Member Files Legal Challenge Over Natural Resource Fund Transparency
GEORGETOWN, GUYANA – Mr. Terrence Campbell, a Natural Resource Fund (NRF) Investment Committee member, this afternoon filed a judicial review application challenging the Government of Guyana’s management and transparency of the Natural Resource Fund. The application names the Attorney General of Guyana and the Senior Minister in the Office of the President with Responsibility for…