Latest update February 3rd, 2025 7:00 AM
Latest News
- Govt. assures Exxon not hiding true oil data
- Sheriff Holdings distances self from convicted fraudster Ed Ahmad over suspicious Ogle land deal
- Trump says Americans could feel ‘pain’ in trade war with Mexico, Canada, China
- Soesdyke man killed after car crashes into truck
- Patterson pillories govt. for reckless spending of oil money
Govt. mulls measures to ensure agriculture is not forsaken for oil – Trotman
Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman
The old adage, “Out with the old in with the new,” will not apply to Guyana when oil starts pumping. That is, of course, if the government sticks to its guns and has its way.
During a recent interview, Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman, told Kaieteur News that the government is keen not to forsake its traditional economic stabilizers for oil—especially not agriculture.
Trotman said that the government has long realized that the production of oil will bring many challenges. As a result, Cabinet has moved to set up a Ministerial Committee made up of the Ministries of Finance, Business, Public Infrastructure, Education, Agriculture, Citizenship Social Protection and Communities. Of course the Ministry of Natural Resources is also a part of the Committee.
That team has to look at all possible implications that Guyana will have to deal with when oil starts pumping.
“Once production of oil starts, we will have labour issues and we will have issues of remigration and citizenship,” said Trotman.
The Minister also noted that the offshore drilling can have an impact on fishing. “We have to deal with that too.”
“Agriculture is important and we want to make sure that we do not forsake agriculture for oil. So it is very important that we maintain our levels of agricultural production. In fact, we even want to see how we can increase,” said Trotman.
Trotman said that the Minister of Finance has an obvious role to play in the committee, particularly with regards to the setting up of the Sovereign Wealth Fund.
Also, Trotman said that the inclusion of the Ministry of Public Infrastructure is important as it will have to deal with the issues of having onshore oil and gas facility.
Trotman added that there is the need for roads, bridges, airports, and maritime regulations for the movement of ships in Guyana’s territorial waters. All of these areas fall under the Ministry of Public Infrastructure.
Minister Trotman said that the team meets on a regular basis and all members are “putting our heads together.”
Exxon Mobil has drilled another well in Guyana’s waters. This drill has confirmed that Guyana’s oil reserve is even larger than believed. The new well—Liza Two—is said to be just as promising as the first.
Trotman had told Kaieteur News that the second find has forced the government to accelerate its preparations for oil production. Trotman said that over the last year, “we have been trying to understand what we have and how to manage it, but we now need to move at a faster pace.”
Similar Articles
THE BLUNT OF THE DAY
Sports
Features/Columnists
The PPP/C’s greatest liability
Peeping Tom Kaieteur News- One might have expected that a ruling party basking in the largesse of oil wealth would chart... more
OAS Secretary General Election and renewed OAS Consensus
Antiguan Barbudan Ambassador to the United States, Sir Ronald Sanders By Sir Ronald Sanders Kaieteur News- The upcoming election... more
Weekend Cartoon
