Latest update March 13th, 2026 12:35 AM
Six years into oil boom… GRA still short of auditors to scrutinise Exxon’s billions
(Kaieteur News) – Six years after Guyana began oil production, the Government of Guyana (GoG) has yet to fully equip the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) with the personnel needed to rigorously audit ExxonMobil and other petroleum operators.
The issue surfaced on Day Five of the 2026 Budget Consideration of Estimates, when Opposition MP Ganesh Mahipaul pressed Finance Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh over staffing gaps within the GRA’s, Oil and Gas Department during scrutiny of the agency’s $11.6 billion allocation.
To this end, Dr. Singh said, “I am advised that in an optimal configuration, they would like to have 91 persons in their optimal configuration. I am further advised that within or of that structure of 91, 14 positions are vacant.”
Finance Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh (3rd right), flanked by members of the Finance Ministry and other agencies within the ministry, including the GRA.
He said that the vacant positions are for principal auditors. Further, he assured that efforts are being made to fill those vacancies, alongside efforts to build capacity through specialized training.
Despite having over a dozen high level vacancies to conduct reviews of expenditure submitted by ExxonMobil, Dr. Singh said, “As a large authority that encourages lateral movement and the development of multi-disciplinary capability, the GRA of course has a number of generic job titles that allow people to be appointed to a particular position and then potentially move laterally between petroleum revenue, VAT, excise, income taxes, customs and so on.”
Given the shortage, Mahipaul questioned government on possible measures to ensure the country receives its maximum earnings from the oil and gas sector.
To this end, Dr. Singh told the Committee of Supply in Parliament that while the GRA is in need of additional staff, the agency has overall recorded tremendous success in building capacity in a short space of time. He therefore noted, “I don’t want us to leave with the impression that there is some glaring and gaping gap or shortage in capacity. They are doing an absolute fantastic job with the resources that they have and they deserve our highest commendation.” Nonetheless, the Finance Minister said efforts will continue to build capacity.
Given that the Commissioner General of the GRA was seated just behind the Minister in the Committee of Supply to review the budgetary allocation, Mahipaul invited the minister to share an update on the three audits conducted to date on ExxonMobil.
So far, three audits have been conducted by independent firms. The GRA has received the reports from those firms and have been tasked with conducting the technical review and conducting further investigation with the support of Exxon.
The GRA therefore remains a fundamental oversight body when it comes to ensuring Guyana receives its rightful share of revenue from oil majors operating offshore. Currently, ExxonMobil is the only producer of hydrocarbons in the country. In Guyana’s case, it is extremely crucial for these audits to be conducted as a whopping 75% of production monthly is deducted for cost. The remaining 25% is then split equally between Guyana and the contractor, meaning that the country receives a meager 12.5% of revenue generated offshore. The country is also paid 2% of gross production every quarter as royalty. This year government will be establishing a specialized petroleum unit within the Audit Office of Guyana.
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ExxonMobil is robbing Guyana blind and the politicians are in cahoots.