Correcting award of oil blocks to unknowns will scare off “exploitative” investors – Dr. Jan Mangal

Oil and Gas Consultant, Dr. Jan Mangal, does not agree with the private sector’s view that the State Asset Recovery Agency (SARA)’s probe of how the Canje and Kaieteur oil blocks were awarded to four inexperienced firms will scare away investors.In fact, Dr. Mangal told Kaieteur News that the probe would set the tone for…

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The Tax Certificate mystery

Introduction The controversy over tax certificates issued to oil companies continues unabated. On March 17, the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance responded to the Oil and Gas Governance Network’s information request by suggesting that tax details could be found in Commercial Registry filings – a claim I discredited in my March 21 column as…

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Seventeen reasons why the ExxonMobil contract should be renegotiated

In my opinion, this contract should be considered null and void for the following interim reasons:1) This contract was not made in good faith, good intention, is biased and is not consistent with minimum international contracting requirements, practice, guidelines, procedures and laws.2) This contract is a production sharing contract/royalty (PSA), where Guyana is technically a…

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A CHECKLIST FOR TESTING AND PREVENTING THE OIL“DUTCH DISEASE”

Vice-President Bharrat Jagdeo gave a very comprehensive and detailed presentationof the Government’s positions on the new oil and gas industry in an interview with Kaieteur Radio’s Kiana Wilburg. In contrast to the lack of transparency on the oil and gas sectorbythe previous APNU/AFC administration, Jagdeo clearly stated that the Governmentis determined to provide sound and…

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Government’s refusal to release oil and gas data is disrespectful to the people of Guyana

I noticed in today’s paper three full-page ads in newspapers, celebrating Caribbean Statistics Day under the theme, “Leave No One Behind…Everyone Counts.” There were messages by “Senior Minister of Finance” (no longer Minister within the Presidency?), the Chairman of the Bureau of Statistics Board, and the CARICOM Secretary General. The Senior Minister said, “Government recognizes…

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