Dear Editor,

I SAW an article in the Guyana Chronicle on 24 June, 2020, that was titled ‘Strong need for civil society involvement in oil-and-gas sector’. The article was based on a public discussion on the need to strategically engage civil society in the oil-and-gas sector, and saw the participation of Dr. Desmond Thomas, a former Lead Economics Specialist at the Inter-American Development Bank in Washington DC; Dr. Rishi Thakur, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Government and International at UG/Berbice Campus; Dr. Pauline Bullen from the Institute of Gender Studies Director; and Dr. Timothy Laing, Senior Lecturer in Economics at the University of Brighton. I found the article very interesting and timely, and thought it appropriate to share some work in which I am currently involved, in this area. I am currently completing studies in a ‘Masters of Jurisprudence in Rule of Law for Development’ degree programme, and my ‘Capstone Project’ (Thesis) focuses on ‘Strengthening cross-sectoral governance in foreign direct investment (FDI) for the maintenance of rule of law, as Guyana transitions into an Oil and Gas Society’. The project aims is ‘to build cross-sectoral capacity, that is, in the public, private and civil society sectors around four areas: Global regulations and obligations, human rights and gender, conflict management; and governance in the oil and gas sector in Guyana.

On the point of Global Regulations and obligations, it examines more specifically investment treaties and obligations from countries where investors currently operating in Guyana are from. These countries include: The United States of America, Canada, United Kingdom, China, Netherlands, Canada, Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago.

The project also examines best practices in Global Regulations and obligations from resourced-rich developed and developing countries and the impact of investment treaties on the sustainable development of these countries. Some of these countries include Australia, Canada, United States, Chile, Botswana, and Norway. These countries have made significant progress in reducing overall poverty; improving governance and sustaining good governance; investing and improving public and private sector institutions; investing in skills and technology; developing efficient and transparent revenue collection and management systems and developing sound economic and fiscal management policies.
The second aspect of the proposed project, examines best practices in integrating human rights, gender, conflict management and governance into policy, legislation and programme implementation in the Oil and Gas sector; and addresses gaps in these areas in the Guyana context.

It is my view that more emphasis on capacity building for the media and public, private and civil society sectors, need to focus on what resource-rich countries, which have avoided the resource curse are doing while also focusing on the shortcomings of those countries which are categorized as resourced curse countries. Avoiding the resourced would require an in-depth understanding of what countries, like the United States, Canada, Norway, Botswana, Chile and several of the Gulf countries are doing at the institutional and societal levels, and learn from their best practices and apply them to the Guyana context, as appropriate.
This proposed project target: Civil Society Sector organisations such as; Guyana Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (GYEITI), Media agencies; Guyana Bar Association; Guyana Association of Women Lawyers; Guyana Banking Association, Guyana Human Rights Association, Trade Unions; private sector organisations, such as the Private Sector Commission, Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the Berbice Chamber of Commerce, etc.

It is also hoped that the University of Guyana would be involved in the proposed project.
The general idea is for Guyana and Guyanese to develop negotiation and general capacity in the areas mentioned above in the oil and gas sector, so that the country can better leverage its new oil status for its growth and development, as well as position Guyanese to sit at the table as equals and as informed owners of their resources.

Yours faithfully,
Audreyanna Thomas