The process for Guyana to meet EITI’s Global Standards could take years

Dear Editor, Government has announced the launch a group calling itself ‘The Guyana Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative MultiStakeholder Group’ (G-EITI MSG). According to Minister Trotman, the group will be represented by “high level officers” from the Ministries of Natural Resources, the OPM, the Ministry of Finance and the GRA. Its mandate will be “to oversee and coordinate the successful and effective implementation of the EITI standards in Guyana.” PM Nagamootoo and Minister Trotman spoke at the launch. Rudy Jadoopat who was introduced as the Head of the National Secretariat also addressed the small gathering.

Guyana is not listed among the implementing countries of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), In fact, a check with the EITI website has it listed among “Others” in terms of its EITI implementation status, which means that it has yet a very long way to go in so far as its association with EITI’s global standards to promote open and accountable management of Guyana’s extractive resources is concerned.

Section three of EITI’s Global Standards points to eight requirements that a country has to implement. These include 1) oversight by multistakeholder group; 2) legal and institutional framework including allocation of contracts; 3) exploration and production; 4) revenue collection; 5) revenue allocation; 6) social and economic spending; 7) outcomes and impact; and 8) compliance and deadlines for implementing countries.

Guyana is now embarking on requirement one of this lengthy process which will probably last for years. The cost of establishing another bureaucratic institution in the form of a secretariat to ensure Guyana’s implementation and adherence to EITI’s eight implementation requirements is yet to be made public. In addition, the public is in the dark as regards the source of funding for this new bureaucracy.

Moreover, the TORs and the qualifications of Mr Jadoopat to head such a strategic body are not known either. Mr Jadoopat’s appointment is highly questionable in view of the fact that he is a known supporter of the AFC who was imported from New York. He is a graduate of the Patrice Lumumba Friendship University in Moscow. Mr Jadoopat at one point took to his Facebook page and launched a series of attacks against the AFC’s leadership from New York. It is interesting to note that soon after Ramjattan’s replacement by Trotman as Leader of the AFC Jadoopat has secured the current appointment.

The public has so far seen a series of missteps and bungling by the AFC in recommending persons for political appointment to top government positions in the APNU+AFC administration.

The question is, is Mr Jadoopat the right person for the job? Let’s stay tuned. Yours faithfully, Clement J Rohee