The Executive branch of government and the GRA, a government agency, have finally decided to come clean on some very important provisions on the Oil Contract. They are at once revealing – and they are outrageous frauds and violations of all standards of decency.How well known is the Pay-on-Behalf concept in Oil Contracts – as…
A SN daily blogger pesters me on this subject: Oil Companies’ financial risk assessment for exploration in Guyana. “Most politically unstable place in Caribbean”, he says. Five biggest Risks – Political risk, Geological risk, Price risk, Supply & Demand risk, Cost Risk. Seems clear the blogger is talking about political risk – gov’t overthrow, nationalization?…
When Guyana’s oil contract was signed in 2016 world market prices per barrel averaged $65. All indications today are that future prices (next 5 -10 years) may average $110. The portion of higher average price ($110 minus $65 = $45) can be called the Russia-Ukraine war premium. Who gets to keep most of the $45…
Today’s front page story in SN showing Minister Bharrat handing over production license for a fourth oil well to Exxon’s Guyana president Alistair Routledge, giving up yet more leverages to demand renegotiation – should give cause for alarm to the Guyanese people. It is simply giving Exxon license to cheat the Guyanese people of Fair…
The argument has been advanced that the reason PNC rigged all elections (1968 – 1985) goes like this: Why not? If PNC didn’t rig, then PPP with its Indian numerical majority base would win all elections – and they (PNC) would be kept out of power forever. Sounds like good logic in an environment where…
I have long considered Steve Coll’s book, “Private Empire ExxonMobil and American Power”, the bible on ExxonMobil. All government officials and ministers with responsibilities for the oil portfolio should take the time to do a serious study of this book. This book was published in 2012. Minister Trotman had renegotiated the Oil Contract in 2016…
Attorney General of Guyana, Mohabir Nandlall, is currently on a visit to New York. On July 2nd, he appeared at two meetings – one at Villa Russo to an audience of 60 and second, at Royal Restaurant on Rockaway Blvd. in Queens, NY to an audience of 150. At the Villa Russo meeting, I asked…
I refer to Mr. Reggie Bhagwandin’s letter, “Oil deal was designed to cater for the nature of the industry” and wish to comment as follows: An argument for tax waivers for Foreign Companies – Profits are not guaranteed. Business is very competitive. Therefore, it makes good sense for host governments to grant tax waivers for…
From Dr. Tulsi Singh’s letter (SN March 2), I take this quote: “Numbers released by VP Jagdeo three weeks ago revealed that Guyana received US$184.9 Million in profit and US$21.2 Million in royalty. Since royalty is calculated at 2% of sales, then sales were US$1,060 Million. So, Guyana’s profit as a percentage of sales was…
I refer to Dr. Tulsi Singh’s letter titled, “Guyana will receive a lot of oil revenues in the next 20 to 25 years” (SN March 1st). If a country’s budget is $US 1.5 billion and you receive rentier income of 1 billion dollars, yes of course that’s a lot of money for a nation of…
