Minister’s power over Petroleum Commission should be lessened - GCCI forum hears
-Ramkarran says oil revenue should bolster, increase ‘six sisters’
The Petroleum Commission Bill, now before a parliamentary select committee, should be fine-tuned to make way for more Board Directors with broader powers to eliminate concerns about possible ministerial micro-management.
In addition, the country should use revenues received from the oil and gas industry to further develop existing sectors, placing special emphasis on agriculture and agro processing to minimise the region’s dependence on food imports while creating employment and income for Guyana’s citizenry.
So says both former Minister of Energy of Trinidad and Tobago, Kevin Ramnarine and former Speaker of the National Assembly and Senior Counsel, Ralph Ramkarran.
“The Board should appoint the Commissioner…the Board of the Commission should appoint the secretary, there should be a board member from civil society and a board member from academia, the board should also have a member from the Environmental Agency and the Commissioner of Lands and Surveys…,” Ramnarine told a Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) forum yesterday at Duke Lodge.
“What Mr. Ramnarine points out is that this legislation has, in the hand of the minister, more powers than other similar legislation, for example, the minister appointing the various persons. One can understand that the government wants control , I am not quarrelling with that at all, but, for example the act might have provided that the board of directors appoints the commissioner and that he be approved by the minister, rather than the minister doing the appointing,” Ramkarran said, as he referred to excerpts of Ramnarine’s presentation.
In May of this year the Petroleum Commission Bill was presented to the National Assembly.
With some 51 clauses, government has said that it seeks to provide the framework for the monitoring and regulation of efficient, safe, effective and environmentally responsible exploration, development and production of the resource in Guyana through the setting up of a Petroleum Commission.
But in June, when it was being debated, the opposition argued that it vests too much power in the minister of natural resources, saying that it should be adjusted to reflect an apolitical stance of the sector.
“When we examine Section Eight which deals with the Power of the Minister to give directions to the Commission, it is clear that the Commission will hardly be able to work without the direction and control of the Minister. According to Section Eight, the Minister is not only allowed to provide policy guidance, but also give direction to the Commission regarding, size of the establishment, the employment of staff and the terms and conditions of employment, the provision of equipment and use of funds, reorganization or such works of development as to involve a substantial outlay on capital account, training, education and research, the disposal of capital assets; the application of the proceeds of such disposals,”