Gov’t says debarred consultant was hired by APNU+AFC

The Government of Guyana yesterday stated that the services of Spaniard, Carlos Barberán Diez, an individual consultant was terminated by the current administration on September 13, 2020, in connection with a corrupt practice as part of the Petroleum Governance and Management Project in Guyana.

In a statement, the government was responding to media reports on a release from the World Bank that a three-year debarment with conditional release had been imposed on Barberán Diez.

The government yesterday said that the Guyana Petroleum Resources Governance and Management Project which was launched in 2019 was created to support the enhancement of legal and institutional frameworks and the strengthening of the capacity of key institutions to manage the oil and gas sector in Guyana.

“Mr. Carlos Barberán Diez was awarded the contract to provide consultancy services under the portfolio of “Natural Gas Negotiations Specialist” on January 31, 2020. The consultancy came into effect on February 3, 2020, and the objectives of this assignment were to provide advisory services and technical support towards the establishment of a natural gas negotiations function within the then-defunct Department of Energy under the Ministry of the Presidency.

“However, owing to Mr. Diez’s conflicts of interest and solicitation, his contract was terminated on September 13, 2020, by the current Government of Guyana in accordance with Clause 19.1.1 (e) of the General Conditions of the granted contract. As a result, the World Bank Group announced a threeyear debarment with conditional release, which results in Mr. Diez’s ineligibility to engage in World Bank Group-financed projects and activities beginning November 16, 2022”, the government statement said.

The government said that it remains committed to the sustainable, transparent, and accountable management of Guyana’s petroleum resources in compliance with international standards and best practices.