Alliance for Change Member of Parliament (MP), Mr. Ricky Ramsaroop made a passionate plea to the government to examine and include amendments proposed by the Opposition that could see a Bill that safeguards the interest of citizens and the environment. He was speaking to Petroleum Activities Bill 2023, which was successfully passed in the National Assembly and will replace the Petroleum (Exploration and Production) Act of 1986.
The MP told the House while he acknowledged the potential benefits the Bill might bring to Guyana, he cannot, in good conscience, support it in its current form. According to him, MPs have a “moral obligation to safeguard our environment, protect the interests of our citizens, and ensure that the exploitation of our natural resources is done responsibly and sustainably.” In pursuit of ensuring such obligation he placed before the House the following amendments:
“1. Transparent Revenue Management: To instill public confidence, the bill should establish an independent oversight body responsible for monitoring oil revenues and ensuring they are allocated to critical sectors such as education, healthcare, and infrastructure development, with regular public reporting.
“2. Empowering Local Participation: The bill should promote local content by setting clear targets for the hiring of Guyanese workers and the procurement of goods and services from local businesses. This will create a thriving ecosystem of homegrown talent and companies.
“3. Diversification and Long-term Planning: We must incorporate provisions to encourage economic diversification and long-term planning beyond oil revenues, ensuring a more stable and resilient economy that benefits all citizens.
These, however, did not find their way into the Bill.
Ramsaroop also proposed to the House the adoption of fellow MP David Patterson’s proposal to have a Petroleum Commission, which will have overarching management of the sector. From Patterson’s vantage point the commission will be shaped by two policies to guide the entire petroleum sector, namely, a national petroleum policy and a petroleum depletion policy.
The MP took the pains of impressing on the House the wisdom of Patterson’s proposal, alluding to the non-renewable nature of the petroleum resources and the importance of legislation to optimise rates of depletion that could ensure maximum socio-economic benefit.
Backed by scholarship, Ramsaroop suggested the best ‘win-win’ to fit both oil company commitments and the obvious interest of Guyana in prolonging the income from oil and gas production is through a national petroleum depletion policy.
The AFC has been a major stakeholder in overseeing the industry, educating the populace and holding the government accountable.
In a final push to his colleagues on the Government side, to be receptive to views outside of their ambit, Ramsaroop reiterated Patterson’s proposed amendments, namely:-
“1. Lack of Adequate Environmental Safeguards: My primary concern with this Petroleum Activities Bill lies in its apparent lack of sufficient environmental safeguards. As we venture into offshore oil exploration and production, we must prioritize the protection of our delicate marine ecosystem and coastal areas. Without robust provisions to address potential oil spills, pollution, and their long-term impacts, we risk irreversible damage to our environment and the livelihoods of countless Guyanese who depend on it.
“2. The bill must have an Environmental Protections Section: We must strengthen the bill with comprehensive environmental safeguards, including strict regulations on oil spill response and mitigation, environmental impact assessments, and provisions for ecosystem restoration in the event of environmental damage.”
Concluding his presentation, the MP implored the necessity of these amendments to ensure the Bill aligns with the best interests of all Guyanese. “Together, we can forge a brighter and more prosperous future for our nation while protecting the values that define us” he appealed.
The Bill was passed in the wee hours of August 10th as submitted by the Government.
