Government pledges to guard against “sleaze and malfeasance” as Oil and Gas Conference opens

The Government of Guyana says it is uncompromising when it comes to avoiding “sleaze and malfeasance in public office,” concerning the country’s budding oil and gas sector.

Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo during the opening of the first Oil and Gas Conference on Monday morning (March 27, 2017), noted that “too many stories have already been told and about the resource curse of countries that have been endowed richly with oil and gas resources, and their political and Governance system breed a disease that deny ultimately the benefits of the resources to the people.”

Several experts in the Oil and Gas industry are gathering at the Marriott Hotel in Georgetown for the first Oil and Gas Conference and Exposition being hosted by the Guyana Oil and Gas Association (GOGA).

He alluded to the proposed amendments to the Integrity Commission Act which will include the Code of conduct for Ministers and other Public Officials.

The Prime Minister noted that Government ought to be able to set the example and ensure accountability by avoiding anyone in public offices from “slipping through the back door and sign agreements and sign benefits that result in unjust enrichment, perhaps disproportionate wealth.”

The two-day conference is being hosted under the theme, ‘The initiation of a transformative industry’.

Chief Executive Officer of GOGA, Bobby Gossai Junior disclosed that the conference will focus on four broad themes including technologies for offshore development, environment regulatory and safety standards experience from other territories and business opportunities that can be developed in Guyana.

Government is currently assessing Exxon Mobil’s and other operators’ applications for both production and exploration licences respectively.

Exxon Mobil Corp. had requested production licence to begin pumping oil from the seabed by late 2019, though company officials have said operations are likely to start in 2020. The company had also submitted its general production plan to the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission.