PPP open to scrutiny of oil blocks awarded during its time

Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo, says that the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) would be open to scrutiny of any contracts it had signed as it relates to oil blocks.

Jagdeo’s comments come in wake of a call by former Presidential Advisor, Dr. Jan Mangal for an investigation into all oil blocks given out under the PPP. Dr. Mangal in a statement to the media over the weekend, said he suspects that Guyana lost out on tens or even hundreds of millions of dollars due to highly inappropriate or corrupt practices by the PPP regime. But the Opposition Leader believes that the former Presidential Advisor is only making such comments in hopes of regaining employment with the government after the summer. Jagdeo said, “I think he wants to get his contract renewed. :hy didn’t he say that all along" If he did say this, then I find it strange that he wouldn’t give more commentary on the e[isting contracts«” The Opposition Leader said, too, that Dr. Mangal should note the fact that the 2016 Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) with E[[onMobil is far worse that 1999 PSA signed by the PPP. Be that as it may, Jagdeo said, “I would suspect that the PPP has no issue with any contract that we signed being e[amined and if people are not doing what they are supposed to do in accordance with the contract, then take back the properties«” :hile Dr. Mangal had called for an investigation, he also issued a word of caution to the current administration as it relates to the announcement by the Ministry of Natural Resources to hire a consultant to help negotiate the remaining blocks.

(Kaieteurnews)