No submissions from main Opposition on new oil contracts – Jagdeo

The main political opposition has not made submissions after the government issued a call for public input on the draft of two new oil contracts released in March, Vice President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo said on Thursday.

Jagdeo said changes needed in Guyana’s oil contracts have been discussed for years and the main opposition should have an impression of critical issues in the contracts.

And that impression, he said, should have informed the opposition’s submissions on the draft contracts.

“It never happened because it’s just laziness on their part,” Jagdeo lamented at a press conference hosted at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre at Liliendaal, Georgetown, on Thursday.

Following the release of these contracts, the government launched a 14-day consultation period. As such, individuals or groups were asked to make submissions.

Elson Lowe, the Economics Advisor to the Opposition Leader, Aubrey Norton, had said the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and Alliance For Change (AFC) parties, which represent the main political opposition, would review the new contracts and provide a “comprehensive” assessment of it when that review is completed.

At a press conference in March, Lowe, however, said a longer consultation period was necessary since these contracts will likely govern an exorbitant sum of money in the coming years. As such, he posited that greater examination is necessary.

Jagdeo highlighted that numerous stakeholders, even some oil companies themselves, commented on the draft contracts.

And due to a high volume of submissions, he said the government is still reviewing all concerns raised and comments given.

With ongoing work, Jagdeo said the government would not ignore submissions made by the opposition now, even though belated.

“They should’ve had a view by now.

“…If they submit now, I don’t think we will ignore their comments totally,” he said.