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GRA doubles up on training efforts for oil and gas sector
The Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) has doubled up on its efforts for training and hiring of staff for its Oil and Gas unit. This is according to GRA Commissioner General, Godfrey S
GRA Commissioner General, Godfrey Statia
tatia.
The tax chief told Kaieteur News that training is set to commence next Monday with several officials already earmarked to go to Trinidad and Tobago and England. Statia also revealed that help is being provided by the USA’s Overseas Technical Assistance (OTA) group.
The Commissioner General said, “The Group will be bringing some retired employees of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). They will be coming to school our people in the area of oil and gas and what to look for. We have also put out some ads in the newspapers for interested, qualified persons to join the team.”
Statia said that the response from persons outside of Guyana has been overwhelming. He noted that there are certain positions for which internal persons would be trained to handle. He stated, however, that there are certain technocratic positions which GRA staffers cannot fill. Statia said that those posts will be taken up by outsiders.
The Commissioner General said, “Some of these positions pertain to petroleum auditing and accounting. Instead of training our people to lead this, we would employ those people who are very versed in the area so that they can hit the ground running.”
Statia added, “When you look at the makeup of the oil and gas unit, we will soon have to get our own geologists on board.”
Finance Minister, Winston Jordan
Additionally, the tax chief said that GRA officials continue to have a presence on ExxonMobil’s offshore operations. He said that this is an effort to monitor the assets out there. He noted that training continues in this regard.
RESOURCE CURSE
As Guyana prepares for oil production by March 2020, the Government insists that it is doing all that is necessary to protect the nation from the resource curse.
In his budget 2018 speech, Finance Minister Winston Jordan said that while the Government continues to build capacity for effectively managing and regulating the oil and gas sector, it will ensure that systems and regulations are in place to properly and transparently account for, and manage oil revenues.
In this regard, he said that an oil and gas unit will also be established within the Guyana Revenue Authority. The economist said that the Unit will benefit from extensive training in revenue administration within the context of Production Sharing Agreements. The Finance Minister stated that the prudent management of these revenues, in addition to a well-thought out development plan, will help to guard against the resource curse.
Although oil remains the main focus of this emerging sector, Minister Jordan stated that the Government is carefully exploring the feasibility of utilizing natural gas as a temporary alternative for power generation. In the coming year, he said, further steps will be taken to identify the preferred option for transporting gas onshore, including the most suitable location.
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