Opposition blasts Government for not allowing sufficient time to discuss Production Sharing Agreement

The Opposition, A Partnership of National Unity and Alliance for Change (APNU+AFC) is blasting the People’s Progressive Party/Civic government for the absence of good governance, saying the situation “has reached crisis point.”

At the press conference, Thursday, Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Aubrey Norton explained that “as our oil wealth continues to increase, Guyanese are demanding a much higher quality of governance. They worried that without change, the scope for corruption, financial mismanagement and waste, missed development opportunities, and the natural resource curse will rapidly expand. In this situation Guyana while being one of the world’s fastest growing economies little in their pantries and on their kitchen tables will change. Life is becoming more difficult for Guyanese.”

The absence of good governance in Guyana has reached a crisis point, said the opposition, pointing out that there is increasing rejection of the necessity for transparency and accountability by the PPP regime. “The PPP stands alone in acknowledging the absence of transparency and accountability.”

Norton informed that in the absence of good governance “Guyanese will continue to voice their rejection of the PPP’s secret and unconstitutional agreements and the wheeling and dealing by Bharrat Jagdeo, the country’s most distrusted, corrupt and incompetent politician.”

Guyanese, he said, must continue to demand parliamentary oversight of major government decisions, must continue to demand to see all agreements and documents in a timely fashion, and must continue to demand genuine public consultations and scrutiny.

Referencing the new model Public Sharing Agreement (PSA) the Opposition flayed for allowing only two weeks for public comments on such an important issue. “It is simply ridiculous and disdainful of the people of Guyana, the owners of the country’s natural endowment.”

The Opposition wants PSA to be laid in the National Assembly and to be reviewed by a select committee and for at least two months for public submissions and discussions.

Pointing out given the size of the country and the dispersed location of communities the opposition noted “it is virtually impossible to consult a wide cross section of the Guyanese people in two weeks” which is needed on the matter.

According to the Opposition “the PPP just does not care what people in our hinterland and other outlying regions think. In addition, the regime’s own desire to be secretive and corrupt does not allow them to want national consultations.”

We are witnessing a pattern of rushing important documents through, the Opposition advised.

The Party said “let us recall our experience with the Natural Resources Fund Act. The PPP is clearly seeking to undermine Guyanese institutions so that the State is able to facilitate its operation as a kleptocracy. The new Petroleum exploration and production Bill must not be similarly rushed through parliamentary and public oversight.

“Instead of this contemptuous approach to the Guyanese public and the National Assembly, we believe that at least 60 days should be given for comments and objections, when dealing with agreements, investment codes, and laws this vital. The Opposition will move a motion in the National Assembly demanding that consultations on matters of national importance must be codified by law, so that this process is not at the discretion of the PPP. Left unchecked, rushing major agreements, investment codes, and legislation to completion has the potential to cost Guyanese tens of billions of USD through incompetence, ignorance, and corruption.”

Only through adopting a structured approach, such as those codified in the US Congressional Review or Administrative Procedure Acts, can we arrest the current relentless slide towards financial recklessness and kleptocracy, Norton warned.