Shameless silence on Wales Gas Project

Feb 21, 2021 Letters

DEAR EDITOR,

Is silence golden on the gas to shore project at Wales? Blunders were made and there was silence except for KN and another paper. Is a white elephant along the line of Skeldon in the making? Respectable individuals of integrity who constantly write in the media have been silent on this project. Are they shameless? Two government aligned newspapers parrot and support the government; they and their agents are also shameless. Two independent newspapers raise critical questions about the project. KN daily exposes the mishandling of oil and gas.
On gas to shore and Wales, the tail is wagging the dog. An individual who headed a government agency in the previous PPP/C administration was announced as the energy czar. Controversy followed him last time around. Is he competent in energy related matters or gas to shore issues? Is he an economist or scientist or engineer to understand the project? If not, why was he selected?
The Vice President announced the Wales project at a press conference two months ago. Scholars were not consulted. There were no studies done before this announcement. When two newspapers raised questions about feasibility, the VP responded two months later saying four studies would be done on feasibility and engineering. KN has logically asked which four bodies will do the studies. What will they study? How will they be selected? There have not been any announcements or advertisements for tendering of studies. Why the secrecy of the project and those who will conduct the studies? Is this government much different from APNU on how energy project is handled?
Professionals, scholars, associations, and rights advocates excoriated the previous regime for its short comings. Why isn’t the same being done now? Why aren’t those individuals of integrity who perennially pen letters in the media or those in government aligned media houses raising query about the planned studies for the gas to shore project? I have lost respect for some of them whose writings I looked forward to. If they are silent because they expect a position or a consultancy or a contract to come their way from the leadership who run this government, they better think again. There is not much room for competency, rights advocates, and integrity. Just look around who heads what and who have been brought back from the last PPP administration. How many individuals of integrity are noted? Silence won’t buy a government position unless you are prepared to be compromised.

Yours truly,
Hema Lokenauth

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