Update: ExxonMobil contract to be made public

Minister of State, Joseph Harmon today disclosed that the contract between the Government of Guyana and ExxonMobil will be made public in December.

This decision comes on the heels of mounting calls from civil society for the contract to be disclosed to the public.

While the Minister did not disclose a specific date for the disclosure, he noted that the matter was discussed extensively at cabinet on Thursday, November 28, 2017, and its members have agreed to release the contract to the public.

The Minister was at the time addressing reporters at a Post Cabinet media briefing at the Ministry of the Presidency (MoTP).

Harmon explained that “we’ve taken all of the issues into consideration. We also recognize that there is a need expressed by our population for greater inclusiveness, for greater information provided and we take those into consideration as well.”

He added that “we listen to the people and we are not deaf to the concerns of our society.”

One of the main reasons advanced by the government in defense of its non-disclosure is the implications a public contract would have for the Guyana-Venezuela controversy.

When asked what will happen to those security concerns if the contract is made public, Harmon said the administration will address that issue when the time is right. “We will deal with that, that’s another issue which we will deal with at the appropriate time,” the Minister said.

He also noted that ExxonMobil is onboard with the government’s decision.