MINISTER of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat, has been appointed to the Board of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), where he will represent Guyana and the wider Latin America and Caribbean region for the 2026–2029 term.
Bharrat’s appointment was confirmed on October 6 while he was in Brussels, Belgium, participating in the 68th EITI Board meeting at the Centre Albert Borschette as part of activities surrounding the 2026 EITI Global Conference.
The minister was first announced as the Principal Member of the EITI Implementing Country Constituency on June 30, paving the way for his appointment to the international board.
In his new capacity, Bharrat is expected to contribute to discussions on transparency, accountability and governance in the extractive industries, including issues affecting resource-rich countries across the region.
The 2026 EITI Global Conference, scheduled for October 8 and 9 in Brussels, brings together representatives of governments, the private sector, civil society and international organisations to examine ways of strengthening governance and transparency in the extractive sector.
Bharrat is also scheduled to participate in a panel discussion titled “Golden opportunities: Securing shared benefits from artisanal and small-scale gold mining”, which will examine how artisanal and small-scale mining can generate more equitable benefits while supporting livelihoods and promoting responsible mining practices.
The minister said Guyana’s participation in the international forum provides an opportunity to share the region’s experiences in natural resource governance while contributing to global efforts to strengthen transparency and accountability.
“Our countries have different experiences, but we share a common responsibility to manage our natural resources transparently and ensure that their benefits reach our people and communities,” Bharrat said.
He added that EITI members must continue to identify practical measures to support livelihoods and strengthen accountability across the extractive sector.
Bharrat’s appointment comes as Guyana continues to expand its extractive industries, particularly the oil and gas and gold-mining sectors, making issues of resource governance, transparency and equitable benefits increasingly important to national and regional policy discussions.