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Department of Energy gives President ‘direct eye’ on petroleum sector – Minister of State
President David Granger
Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, said yesterday that the soon to be established Department of Energy will provide President David Granger with a ‘direct eye’ on petroleum-related matters.
The new department is being established under the Ministry of the Presidency, which means that Harmon will report to the National Assembly on developments in the sector.
At post cabinet media briefing, yesterday, Harmon noted that the department basically gives more space, more authority, more resources and the direct eye of the president in dealing with these issues.
“Once it is the Ministry of the Presidency, the Minister of State is the person who will answer in the National Assembly for any matter that relates to the Ministry of the Presidency,” Harmon stated.
According to Harmon, the government could not set up a next Ministry because they are constrained by the number of ministers the government can have.
Last month, Government announced plans to establish the new department, explaining that it was recommended by Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman, who is currently Government’s lead person on petroleum matters.
The People’s Progressive Party (PPP) had indicated that the decision to establish the department meant that Minister Trotman was being stripped of responsibilities for the petroleum sector, which has been buzzing with criticisms of the 2016 production sharing agreement which government signed with ExxonMobil and its partners.
Following the PPP’s claims, the Government rushed to defend Trotman’s work in the petroleum sector, pointing out that he has provided sterling leadership.
According to Government, it is under Trotman’s stewardship that significant progress has been made in capacity building and preparations for ‘first oil’.
Some notable achievements, according to the government, include the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Petroleum Institute of Mexico for training and capacity building, which has seen the commencement of training for Guyanese, the drafting of the Petroleum Commission Bill, Sovereign Wealth Fund Bill and Health, Safety and Environment Regulations and the revision of the Petroleum (Exploration and Production) Act with the help of the Commonwealth Secretariat.
Cabinet has mandated that Minister Trotman head a Task Force, which would comprise the Ministers of Finance, State, Public Infrastructure and Business.
The Ministers of Public Security, Public Telecommunications, Ministers of Education and Social Protection are also expected to be included.
The Task Force has been tasked with the formulation of a proposal for the development of the mandate of the Department of Energy, as well as how it will be structured and staffed.
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