Numerous Guyanese acting as middle-men between Oil companies and Govt.

Jul 01, 2018 ExxonMobil, News

– Former Pres. Advisor says, “Many more aspiring jokers in the line…”

Former Presidential Advisor on Petroleum, Dr. Jan Mangal, insists that there are numerous Guyanese acting as middle-men between foreign oil companies and the government of Guyana.
In a letter to the media, the Oil and Gas Consultant said that this state of affairs is only eroding the value of the country.
His comments came in the wake of accusations that his recent call for an investigation into all oil blocks given out under the previous administration, is an attempt to regain his job with the current Government. But Dr. Mangal maintained in his letter that these allegations are baseless.
The Petroleum Advisor said that one of the conditions upon which he was hired by the Granger administration, stated that he would not be looking to facilitate deals between the private sector and the government. It said that his focus needed to be on Government and civil society.

Former Presidential Advisor on Petroleum, Dr. Jan Mangal

Citing an example in this regard, Dr. Mangal said that he received a call from someone overseas in the industry indicating that he could become filthy rich if he helped broker a deal between an oil company and the government. He said he responded in the negative to the request.
Dr. Mangal added, “This type of request is not uncommon. There are numerous Guyanese already acting as middle-men between foreign companies and the Government and many more aspiring jokers (are) in the line.
“But these middle-men add zero value to the country, and only erode value from the country.”
Further to this, the Oil and Gas Consultant said that by accepting to be the President’s advisor, it was with the understanding that his earnings during the role, although very high by Guyanese standards, would be a fraction of what he previously earned when in the private sector.
INVESTIGATE ALL OIL BLOCKS
A few weeks ago, Dr. Jan Mangal called for an immediate investigation into all oil blocks given out during the era of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C).
In a missive to the media, the Oil and Gas Consultant said he suspects that the blocks were awarded in highly inappropriate ways or even corrupt ways under the last administration.
He emphasized that an investigation is needed to ensure the people of Guyana were not robbed of tens or even hundreds of millions of US dollars.
In his most recent letter, he sought to clarify that his recommendation to investigate the award of petroleum blocks under the previous Government was made because most of the awards date from under the PPP.
He clarified, too, that he was not calling out the previous Government because of who they are, or were, but simply because most of the awards were made by them.
But Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo has responded saying that the People’s Progressive Party would be open to scrutiny of any contracts it had signed as it relates to oil blocks.
The Opposition Leader had said, too, that he believes Mangal is only making such comments in hopes of regaining employment with the government after the summer.
Jagdeo said, “I think he wants to get his contract renewed. Why didn’t he say that all along? If he did say this, then I find it strange that he wouldn’t give more commentary on the existing contracts….”
The Opposition Leader said, too, that Dr. Mangal should note the fact that the 2016 Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) with ExxonMobil is far worse that 1999 PSA signed by the PPP.
Be that as it may, Jagdeo said, “I would suspect that the PPP has no issue with any contract that we signed being examined and if people are not doing what they are supposed to do in accordance with the contract, then take back the properties.”