Petroleum Advisor does not decide Gov’t policy – President Granger

President David Granger has made it clear that policy decisions are made by him as the duly elected Head of State and the Cabinet, according to a statement from the Ministry of the Presidency.

The President’s comments followed media reports of Presidential Advisor on Petroleum, Dr Jan Mangal telling a University of Guyana forum that the 2% royalty Guyana will receive from oil production was below international standards and that public pressure can force a renegotiation of the contract.

According to the Government release, while the administration hires and receives advice from advisors and technical officers, the final decision on matters is based on a large number of factors related to policy-making at the national level.

“Government Policy is not decided by the Advisor. The Advisor advises me and any decision on policy will come out of the Cabinet,” the Head of State was quoted as saying.

On March 10, 2017, the Government announced Dr Mangal’s appointment and described him as “an expert” in offshore and civil engineering.

As a matter of fact, Minister of State, Joseph Harmon had announced the appointment and was quoted in a release from the Ministry of the Presidency as saying that Dr Mangal will be “advising us on the development of the petroleum industry. He will be advising the Minister and the Ministry of Natural Resources on matters of policy… We are happy to have a Guyanese person possessing the skills that are now available to us.”

On Wednesday, February 07, the Ministry of the Presidency put on public record that Dr. Mangal is not authorised to speak on behalf of the President or the Government.

President Granger said that while he holds Dr. Mangal’s, qualifications and over 18 years of international experience within the oil and gas industry in high regard, the Advisor does not make the final decision.

“The Advisor is very experienced in his field as a technical officer but [ultimately] policy comes from me and my Cabinet,” President Granger said.

Dr Mangal is an oil and gas professional, who has worldwide experience with oil majors and governments, a background in project management, decision analysis, facilitation, project economics, and a PhD in offshore geotechnical engineering.

On his LinkedIn profile, Dr Mangal said he is “currently focused on ensuring Guyana’s oil resource benefits the people and future generations.”