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Request for investigation into all blocks under PPP not a new phenomenon – Dr. Mangal
…Insists he is not saying this to regain his job with Govt.
Former Presidential Advisor on Petroleum, Dr. Jan Mangal has debunked accusations that his call for an investigation into all oil blocks given out under the previous regime is an attempt to renew his contract with the government, which came to an end March last.
Former Presidential Advisor, Dr. Jan Mangal
Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo
In a letter to the media, Dr. Mangal said that he will prove in the coming weeks that his call for an investigation predates the end of his tenure as advisor to the President. He insisted that his request is not a “recent phenomenon.”
Further to this, the Oil and Gas Consultant opined that his actions taken during the role of petroleum advisor prove that he was not trying to curry favour with anyone, including the President. Dr. Mangal said that his objective was only to satisfy his remit from the Head of State, which was to help ensure the oil and gas industry benefits the people of Guyana, especially the poor, the youth and future generations.
To maximize his chances of success, he adopted four simple principles. He promised that he would not use his role as advisor as a means to land another job. If he did, Dr. Mangal reasoned that he would compromise his objective, as he would be trying to curry favour with foreign oil companies or international donor agencies, as opposed to looking out for the interests of the Guyana.
He also committed to not using the role of advisor to the President as a means to make friends and had to accept that he would annoy many in positions of power (both in government and outside).
Dr. Mangal said that his time in the role was spent challenging proposals and strategies of some high-level government officials. He added, “But, please remember that things would be worse if behaviours witnessed under previous governments were as prevalent under this government…”
Dr. Mangal also made a commitment to not facilitate deals between the private sector and the government, as his focus needed to be on government and civil society. He also accepted that his earnings 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…”
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