— acting chancellor urges legal fraternity

MEMBERS of the legal fraternity are being encouraged to seek to understand the intricacies of the oil and gas sector ahead of oil production slated for 2020.

At the first joint bench and bar oil and gas seminar held at the Ramada Princess Hotel, Providence, practicing attorneys, members of the judiciary and magistracy were called upon to focus more on oil and gas law.

At the conference, titled ‘Guyana oil and gas law training development conference’, Chancellor of the Judiciary (ag) Yonette Cummings-Edwards reminded the participants that significant interest is being generated as a result of Guyana’s oil finds.
“Everybody is discussing Guyana and its oil find. We in the legal profession must do likewise,” she said, noting that legal professionals and practitioners must be proactive, eager to learn and embrace Guyana’s new found industry.

The acting chancellor alluded to the fact that several lawyers, prior to the discovery of oil here, completed their post-graduate studies in oil and gas. She applauded them and urged the others to sharpen their skills through education.

“This is an important industry within Guyana and as lawyers and legally trained persons, we must be able to take up that mantle as independent, competent and ready, both bench and bar, to meet and greet this new, great, enormous industry,” said Justice Cummings-Edwards.

Similarly, Alias Elias-Roberts, Deputy Dean, Faculty of Law, University of the West Indies (UWI), and one of the conference’s main presenters reminded participants that oil and gas is one of the most important sectors in any country.

She stressed that if properly developed, the natural resource has the potential to rapidly transform the economy of countries like Guyana. “This can be the biggest opportunity that this country has been blessed with, so it is really important that this is not a missed opportunity. It is important as a nation we learn lessons from other hydro-carbon nations of what went wrong and what is needed to be understood to make better decisions,” Elias- Roberts stated.

President of the Bar Association, Kamal Ramkarran, in his brief address to the participants, said the oil and gas conference themed, “Exploring the legal framework in oil and gas law”, is the first step in ensuring that members of the legal profession are equipped and learned in the area.

He noted that the conference is an initiative of the Chancellor and acting Chief Justice, Roxane George-Wiltshire.
“The public looks to us… lawyers, judges and magistrates… so it is our duty to understand the law,” remarked Ramkarran.

Meanwhile, in a PowerPoint presentation titled, “Development of Guyana’s oil and gas industry”, Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman outlined his administration’s efforts over the past three years.

He provided the legal fraternity, of which he is a member, with timelines and the successes and challenges Guyana has had over the period. Additionally, the Natural Resources Minister spoke of several areas to which his administration intends to focus on going forward.

These include a national upstream oil and gas policy, a revised Petroleum Exploration Act, examining the possibility of a national oil company, a scientific institute and an onshore logistics base, among others.

Trotman noted that the journey has not been easy, but despite the challenges Guyana will press on. He also welcomed criticisms as he said, “they keep us busy on our toes”.
Among the areas of discourse to be deliberated on during the two-day conference are the legal and regulatory framework of oil and gas law, the multi-disciplinary nature of oil and gas law, petroleum contracts, contentious legal issues in oil and gas exploration and production, the Sovereign Wealth Fund and local content in Guyana’s oil and gas sector, taxation, and good governance in the management of oil and gas resources.