Dr. Jagdeo says, convinced that the newspaper will continue to distort facts

VICE-PRESIDENT, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo on Thursday blasted Kaieteur News for its constant “twisting of facts.”
During a press conference at the Office of the President, while responding to a question from a media operative on why he chooses to respond to Kaieteur News, Dr. Jagdeo said: “What I do here is not for Kaieteur News. I do it for the people of this country, because Kaieteur News will continue to distort,” adding that the newspaper is being used as a campaign tool.
Additionally, he said that Guyanese should be aware of the underlying objectives of the news entity because it is used to distort facts and disseminate it to the people.
Dr. Jagdeo then went on to say: “The newspaper is a political organ…,” explaining that he will always let Guyanese know the truth and raise awareness of the “kool-aid” phenomenon occurring.

While reading through some of the misleading headlines scattered within the newspaper, he pointed out that an editorial published in August 2023 was riddled with his name about 20 times and cast the blame on him for the extension of the oil blocks.
“Everybody knows that Granger extended the blocks for three… Canje, Kaieteur and Stabroek…” he said.
In July 2020, in response to a request from ExxonMobil, the then APNU+AFC government approved a one-year extension for the Petroleum Prospecting Licence pertaining to the Stabroek Block.

This extension also encompassed the Canje and Kaieteur Blocks. The letters of approval were signed by former President, David Granger.
“Kaieteur News will not change,” Dr. Jagdeo said, adding that despite the assortment of misinformation and attacks, he would not persecute reporters attached to the entity and instead answer the questions posed.

Added to this, he highlighted other articles that the entity has produced which spewed a number of “untruths” about the oil and gas sector in Guyana.
The Ministry of Natural Resources issued a statement responding to former APNU+AFC officials, including Khemraj Ramjattan, David Patterson, and Dr. Vincent Adams, in relation to the approval of a one-year force majeure (FM) extension for exploration operations under the Petroleum Prospecting Licence for the Stabroek Block, within the Stabroek Co-Ventures (Co-Vs).

The ministry pointed out that during the period of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Co-Vs engaged in ongoing discussions with the APNU+AFC government concerning the pandemic’s impact on petroleum operations. These dialogues led to the establishment of a Public Health Order, categorising petroleum operations as essential services.
Aside from the granting of the extension, it is important to note that the 2020 Annual Work Programme and Budget (AWPB), which had received approval in 2019 during the APNU+AFC government’s term, was extended during the initial stages of the pandemic, a time of uncertainty regarding its ultimate impact.

In contrast, the ministry emphasised that the PPP/C government opted not to endorse FM extensions for both the Canje and Kaieteur Blocks, differing from the APNU+AFC’s decision.
Consequently, the ministry asserted that the statements made by the APNU+AFC leadership not only reveal a contradictory stance, but also expose their willingness to disseminate misleading information to the public.

These statements demonstrate a lack of commitment to the advancement of the oil and gas sector, as well as a disregard for its development.