Reference is made to Dr. Randolph Persaud’s letter titled: ‘Suggestion that Exxon is Guyana’s new slave master is baseless . . .”. (SN August 6th). My characterization of the Persaud’s letter is to brainwash the Guyanese people into feeling gratitude for Exxon’s investment – and to disregard the Guyanese people’s arguments and plea for renegotiation…
Where in the Stabroek petroleum agreement is it stated that the oil companies receive 98% of revenues per month?On Thursday November 7th, 2019, the press reported that the Exxon will take the first three liftings of oil. The press indicated each lifting is one million barrels. Assuming oil price per barrel of US$60, the total…
If you are lending money, you want to ask yourself two main questions as part of due diligence. The first, can the borrower repay the entire loan when the loan comes due. And, the other, are you being paid a fair interest rate for the risk you are taking on with a particular borrower. On Wednesday, October 28th,…
According to the nation’s laws, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is mandated to protect the environment for the benefit of present and future generations through measures designed to prevent pollution. In spite of this, the EPA still granted to ExxonMobil, a permit, the language of which is so ambiguous, that the oil giant is allowed…
Mr. Anil Nandlall S.C. Attorney General and principal legal adviser to the Government has written rather disparagingly about comments I made in my last Friday‘s Stabroek News oil and gas column. Without naming me or addressing any of the extensive data, sources and arguments I used in arriving at my findings, he claims that my…
As per the 2016 Stabroek Block contract, for the oil production lifecycle, from the preparation for oil production to when the oil is finally sold, the oil companies pay no taxes (see Article 15.1). The applicable income tax laws assess the Contractor’s tax due on taxable income (Article 15.3) and the Minister agrees to pay…
I am responding herewith to Mr. Bhagwandin’s letter to the Editor of Stabroek News published October 8, 2022, and entitled `The overall objective of the PSA is to obtain a higher profit share after fully recouping investment costs’. First, I fully agree with other online commentators that there was no need for Mr. Bhagwandin to…
Please allow me to comment on your article in yesterday’s SN: `Guyana’s first million barrels of oil is closer – still no word on price.’ Once one peels away the legal mumbo jumbo and pretensions, the oil contract clearly says that profit oil is valued by the monthly average of the spot market price. You…
Today’s column will simulate two scenarios of expected money inflows into and outflows from the Natural Resource Fund. All simulations are based on the NRF Act of 2021. The Act allows for higher early withdrawals from the Fund. Several justifications for high initial withdrawals were outlined by government officials. First, the dire shortage of the…
