Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman today (Thursday, January 19, 2017) refuted claims by Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo that the Government has signed a “secret” Memorandum of Understanding with a Trinidadian company to sell out the Skeldon Sugar Factory.
Jagdeo speaking at a forum yesterday (Wednesday, January 18, 2017) indicated that the MOU was part of Government’s secret deal to sell out one of the country’s greatest asset.
However, Trotman debunked these claims, noting instead that the MOU was signed to merely conduct a feasibility study regarding an integrated sugar cane processing facility for GUYSUCO’s assets and related assets in the Skeldon Sugar Factory.
According to Trotman there is no such thing as a secret deal noting that this information was shared with the Parliamentary Opposition, GUYSUCO and the Unions representing the workers.
He said it is not true for the Opposition Leader to say that anything was hidden with regards to the MOU.
Trotman further stated that Government is unaware that when it is signing memoranda of understanding it needs to have the Opposition alongside the representatives.
The Natural Resources minister also expressed confidence that the Ministry of Business would be willing to release the document since there is no confidentiality clause.
