Latest update September 22nd, 2026 10:30 AM
Why reinvent the wheel when it is already at your disposal?
Dear Editor,
Recent announcement by His Excellency the President for Expressions of Interest (EOIs) to build 30,000 barrels per day Modular refinery raises some serious questions. The first is who advises the President? Is he being kept in the dark? Is he not aware that according to some officials six to ten proposals have been submitted?
It has been said that within the past two years, there has been 6 to 10 proposals to build a Modular refinery here in Guyana. Now I am not very smart, but I have been discussing with a number of persons. This tells me that the Government agencies have had sufficient time to review these proposals and to evaluate each on its merits.
It also suggests that the Government has had sufficient time to make a decision accepting or rejecting one of these proposals and to give reasons to each and every developer why such a decision has been determined.
It would seem that such a determination has never been made, no public disclosure has been made to date. No public disclosure as to whom these proposals has been made. I am aware of at least two as they were in the press.
To request EOIs after all these proposals have been submitted is indicative of underlying factors at play here. Why this absolute lack of transparency?
Why should these proposers not be fearful that with such time lapse there would have been sufficient time and the real possibility of the plagiarizing and reconfiguring of the submitted proposals.
In a letter published in the Kaieteur News on the 29th of August and captioned, “Govt. should facilitate the efforts of our local businessmen”, I asked, “Why is the Government not pushing for a refinery? Why is the Government not pushing the idea for the private sector to build one?”
The question now is, if the government already has such proposals, why is the President now calling for EOIs. I have heard that VP Bharrat Jagdeo is in charge of Oil and Gas. Are these proposals going to him? Can he confirm if indeed there are a number of proposals? If so, can he say if he has kept the President in the Loop? The Guyanese people have not been informed they were kept out of the loop. I have no doubt these proposals are there I did mention one in my last letter.
Considering the “SU” factor is it the EOI’s is a front for a pre- selected/ pre determined entity to be selected? Don’t blame me for thinking about SU.
The appropriate approach would be to evaluate each and every one of the proposals already in the governments hands and decide from the proposals already submitted. Why reinvent the wheel when it is already at your disposal? Why waste additional time? Give the process credibility.
In my letter I asked if the Guyana government would commit to sell crude to local refineries, at benchmark price of course. I have not received a response and it is my belief that the Guyanese people and any potential investors need to know this. Awaiting an answer but not holding my breath.
Noonmattie Bharratt
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