Dear Editor,

IT WAS with great dismay that I read the latter section of an article (18 companies eyeing oil & gas facility) in your Saturday, October 15, 2016 edition, which stated: “However it was revealed that Exxon has been over the past few months faced with varying internal and external problems, hence the minister stressed that the company needs to find money fast and the earnings from Guyana would be ideal for their continued success.”

It is most distressing that a journalist could have so easily, simplistically, and irresponsibly recreated my response to a question posed by Mr. Denis Chabrol of Demerara Waves — which was whether Guyana anticipated difficulties with ExxonMobil proceeding to develop the Liza well in light of a fine issued against it in another jurisdiction.
My short answer was that I had no such indication, and that it was my belief that if there was a debt to pay, the best way to liquidate it would be to raise revenue by proceeding apace with developments here. At no time did I speak about, or “reveal”, anything regarding alleged internal or external difficulties the company was facing, and that the company “needed to find money fast”, as these are totally outside of my knowledge.

This is an extraordinarily reckless style of journalism.

Editor, I would expect that, following a review of the transcript, a clarification and retraction of the misrepresentation would be printed.

RAPHAEL TROTMAN,
Minister of Natural Resources

Editor’s Note:
After reviewing statements made by Minister Trotman, it was found that the minister made no attribution to any internal or external difficulties of ExxonMobil. The Guyana Chronicle apologises for suggesting such in our article. Regarding a fine imposed against the company by a court in the country of Chad, Minister Trotman said: “We saw with interest, and it reminds us that we have to be vigilant…I believe Exxon needs to find some money fast, and it will spur them to continue develop the well so it can help to pay some of their fines.” He added: “I don’t believe it will interfere with any operation here, or cut back…if you have to pay debt, you have to be able to earn to pay…so Guyana remains one of the few places where Exxon’s ability to earn exists…I don’t see them cutting back on operations in any way.”