Opinion
Gov’t should begin treating oil costs the same way it handles the budget
On social media, one can find many speeches by members of parliament debating the 2020 budget for Guyana. The budget outlines the allocation of money to the major activities that keep the country running. Issues such as how much will be spent on health care to the amount of dollars pensioners will receive are determined…
Government’s position that approval of the Payara oil well is not a “make or break” moment may cause Guyana to lose billions
While some of our politicians divide our people by inciting racial riots, Exxon is laughing all the way to the bank, wallowing in enormous profits from the first oil well called Liza 1 in Guyana. Exxon is seeking approval for a new oil well called Payara in the Payara oil block. Despite all the experts…
Govt. must be part of cost negotiations for oil developments
In order for Guyana to get as much value as reasonably possible from the extraction of its petroleum resource, the Government must be part of negotiations of costs for the development of its oil fields. This is the urge of the Oil and Gas Governance Network (OGGN). The pressure group, formed to ensure good governance…
All parties can agree to renegotiate Esso petroleum contract
Alastair Routledge, Esso’s latest country manager, has been reported in the press as saying that ExxonMobil cannot renegotiate the Petroleum Agreement because of ‘sanctity of contract.’ That is not correct. Article 31.2 of the Petroleum Agreement says: “This Agreement shall not be amended or modified in any respect except by written agreement entered into by…
Robert Persaud quietly awarded the Canje/Kaieteur oil blocks to non-entities in 2015 days before his party lost the election, and then ExxonMobil quickly bought into these two blocks
People are now saying VP Jagdeo is a sell-out to ExxonMobil. But I disagree, because the PPP leadership forfeited the interests of the poor people of Guyana to ExxonMobil since 2015. Robert Persaud quietly awarded the Canje/Kaieteur oil blocks to non-entities in 2015 days before his party lost the election, and then ExxonMobil quickly bought…
Government must not compromise on review of the oil contract
The four-column headline, “Delays could risk long-term value of Guyana’s oil” in the state-owned paper is wrong-headed. It reads like the work of a clever PR-person, produced and paid for by the oil company. The fact that it is published in the state-owned paper suggests collusion, and worse, a sellout.The arguments made in the article…
PPP/C gov’t will be making monumental blunder if it approves Payara without getting better deal
It has been reported that approval of ExxonMobil’s Payara Development Project seems closer to fruition, as Minister of Natural Resources Vickram Bharrat has confirmed that a draft licence is being discussed. Minister Bharrat was previously reported as saying, “Even though the PPP/C government may be desirous of granting the approval for ExxonMobil’s third development project…
Attorneys Datadin, Jonas – Are they For or Against Renegotiation of the Oil Contract?
Both distinguished lawyers appeared on the Charles Sugrim Globespan show on Monday night (August 31st), and fielded a question from Dr. Jerry Jailall: “Are you for Renegotiation of the Oil Contract?”Attorney Timothy Jonas’ gave a very nuanced answer. He said, “if you have a citation where I said I am against, send it to me”….
We need strong leadership like that demonstrated by Dr Adams to protect Guyana
A patient with cancer would want an experienced world class oncologist to give the diagnosis and prescribe the treatment. For a life changing event, one wouldn’t fire the oncologist in the middle of their assessment and then seek advice from a replacement with much less qualifications and experience. But it appears the Government of Guyana…
APNU+AFC approved Liza Phase One permit same day it received Exxon’s 1,500-page environmental impact assessment
One year after rushing to sign the lopsided Stabroek Block Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) with ExxonMobil, the APNU+AFC administration allowed the company’s Liza Phase One permit to be approved on the same day the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) received the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the project. Exposing this revelation yesterday was international lawyer, Melinda…