Dear Editor,
FORMER Petroleum Minister under the Coalition, Raphael Trotman, writing last week, assailed the current PPP administration for not inviting the opposition to participate in last month’s International Energy Conference. He claimed that when he was minister, PPP opposition figures were invited and participated in energy conferences held under his watch.

Last month’s energy conference was not a government undertaking but a private sector initiative. The Energy Conference (EC) was not sponsored by the government, though it received support from the administration. The EC was open to the government, opposition, and public. No one was excluded. There was a registration fee for attendance. Anyone who was interested as a participant simply paid the fee and gained confirmation. The organisers wanted Guyana’s policy-makers to talk about opportunities for investment in the energy sector. Thus, government figures were invited and made presentations on opportunities available for investment in Guyana.

There was no need to invite specific political parties or opposition politicians, unless they were experts in the field who could have made significant contributions in energy and investment. Carol Joseph was the petroleum adviser to Trotman. Is she an oil-and-gas expert? If she or other opposition politicians are experts in energy, they should have made it known to the organisers. PNC/R members, including Dr Van West Charles, were at the EC.

On speaking about the oil sector, it is not forgotten that Trotman and the Coalition concealed the Exxon contract for over one year before public pressure caused its release. Asked about the lopsided contract and who gave approval for the deal, Trotman said that he was instructed to sign the contract. Up to this day, he has failed to say who instructed him. There was also the Coalition government’s secrecy of the signing bonus of US$18 million. The money was hidden from the public until investigative journalists and Christopher Ram exposed it, embarrassing the government.

Also, Trotman and the Coalition agreed to pay the taxes of Exxon and partners amounting to billions of dollars, saddling the PPP administration with the expense. The Coalition never consulted the then opposition PPP or other political parties or civil society or the public, when it negotiated with Exxon or when it signed agreements.

Rather than now complain about issues that have no significant outcomes and pretend that it cares about Guyanese, the Coalition should demonstrate initiative and creativity by advocating transformative projects and programmes, such as participating in clean-up campaigns to better the life of Guyanese. Raving and ranting will not move the country forward or create a ‘One Guyana.’ The Coalition must use talent to uplift Guyanese from distress and economic woes.

Yours truly,
Name withheld by request