…Approval for Payara – ‘A country which has no self-respect and accepts crumbs for its Crown Jewels’ – Dr. Jan Mangal
Dr. Jan Mangal
During an exclusive interview, Dr. Mangal articulated, “I have already said so much on this topic, am just thoroughly disappointed to see Guyanese politicians continue to sell out the nation, and perpetuate our 50 plus years as a failed state, when instead we always should have been the beacon for the Caribbean.”
Further to this, the former Presidential Advisor noted that most Guyanese politicians seem either self-interested, completely mediocre, or a dangerous combination of both while adding that Vice President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo and his party seems to be “doing their utmost to keep Guyana a banana republic, a country which has no self-respect and accepts crumbs for its crown jewels. But Guyanese voters are ultimately to blame for perpetuating this sad state for decades, and they will be the ones to continue to suffer.”
Also sharing similar sentiments was international lawyer, Melinda Janki. In a brief note, she told this newspaper that it is critical for all to bear in mind that the people of this country were united in insisting that the 2020 elections results which were in PPP/C’s favour, be respected. “Yet, in just a few weeks, the government shows that it is excessively subservient to foreign interests,” the lawyer said. She categorically stated that this does not augur well for Guyana, adding that the PPP/C should not lose sight of the fact that it is the citizenry that voted for them to serve its interest and that of the nation.
PAYARA PROJECT
On Friday last, Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat, had told Kaieteur News that the government and ExxonMobil are very close to signing off on the Payara Field Development Plan.
In fact, he told this newspaper yesterday that the parties involved were working to get it done before the end of the week, pending Cabinet approval. Up to press time, there was no confirmation on whether the deal was wrapped up or not.
Minister Bharrat said that the current agreement has several safeguards in place, two of which include stiff fines for the burning of gas and failure to treat reservoir water before disposing of it into the ocean.
Asked for a ballpark figure of the fines, Minister Bharrat said that this is still being finalized. He was keen to note, however, that the findings of the Payara Field Development review would be released next week.
That exercise was initially started by UK firm, Bayphase Oil and Gas Consultants and continued by former Premier of Alberta, Canada, Alison Redford. The PPP government had said that Redford was hired thanks to a grant from the Canadian High Commission. Her team consisted of the former Deputy Minister of Energy in Newfoundland, Canada; senior international reservoir engineers; and Mr. Jay Park, Q.C, Managing Partner of Park Energy Law based in Canada and the United Kingdom.
When the review got underway in August, Kaieteur News would have reported that one of the critical issues that stymied swift approval pertained to ExxonMobil’s desire to retain the loopholes it got in the Liza One and Two permits which allow for flaring.
The other matter of concern pertains to the dumping of produced water into the ocean. When oil companies drill the seafloor to extract oil, it is not only oil that comes up with it; water is part of the mixture too. As a result of it not being needed, it is separated and disposed of.
The critical issue is how that disposal is being done. International best practices dictate that this produced water should be re-injected into the earth’s surface. Research conducted by Kaieteur News notes that in some cases, the produced water is discharged into oceans and other offshore water channels. Because no two geographic regions are alike, studies are done to assess the environmental risks of the produced water’s toxicity on marine life before granting approval for the disposal of it into the ocean.
In Guyana’s case, not a single study was done for the Liza Phase One or Two Projects, yet Guyana went full steam ahead with approving the permits for those projects, which allow for the disposal of produced water into the ocean.
Comments
Wow ! Fact fake false fiction or fantasy?
You decide !
My jury has reached a unanimous verdict.
…
I hope that your jury came out with the view that Guyana has been screwed
( again).
Ha ha …hilarious laughter !
Allow donkies to vote they elect jackasses !
Taxpayers loosers !
Tax avoiders/evaders winners !
…
It’s all by design. Former President Granger was too much of a threat to the corporate interests of the white powers. The white man had to choose the lesser threat, the PPP/C.
Granger was against corruption and drugs. The white man had to get rid of him because the industrialised countries are spiritually sick and the population needs that coke from Colombia.
Dennis I agree with you completely. I think America realized that they would not find a friend in President Granger when he refused to allow them to put up their tower in the interior of Guyana to broadcast their Voice of America propaganda to the Venezuelan people. It’s not that they wanted to have Jagdeo back in power but it was a necessary evil to achieve the goals of America and their investors…i.e. Exxon for one. Thus the chaotic elections that ensued and the end result of a PPP swindle of Guyanese voters. I guess once the letters “win” was part of the word, it made it a “win” for America’s chosen. The more that Ali refuses to hold talks with APNU, is the more scrutiny he’s casting upon himself, Jagdeo and the government. The same world that Jagdeo claimed was watching the results of the election ,it’s the same world that continues to watch how the PPP governing the country. Outside interference in a sovereign country election process is a DOUBLE EDGED SWORD.
Granger did an honourable thing to prevent aggression even in the midst of a territorial dispute. With the comments that many PPP supporters are posting online on Facebook, an invasion in Venezuela is imminent.
The proof of the pudding is in the eating. So let the Government release the draft of the protective provisions against flaring and dangerous disposal of the water. Fines are not enough. Exxon will pay or not pay and move on. Then of course they’ll claim that the agreement is sacrosanct in international law. What’s the rush? Have international expert scrutiny of the agreement. The oil isn’t disappearing. After all the allegations against Trotman and company and all the criticisms about their performance, just prove the point of your own competence. There the matter would rest.
Simple Simon says
Legislate to make exon Guyana operations
a 51% owned public/private/partnership!
with Guyanese shareholders.
BANKSDIH became a shareholding company
when LFSB was “nationalising” bauxite.
Some of LFSB own friends and family became
shareholders.
Chavez/maduro nationalised Venezuela oil
and is now paying the price !
Says simple Simon
Aka Kamtan uk-ex-EU 🇬🇧🇬🇾
Kamtan you’re a real optimist or maybe just a dreamer. There’s no way that Exxon is going to agree to a 51% public/private partnership with Guyanese shareholders. They would rather pack their bags, cut their losses and pull out of Guyana. But that’s not going to happen either unless the government brace them against the wall, which they will not do because they’re in America’s back pocket.
Guess it’s another David v Godzilla scenario !
Politicians all have their hidden agenda …also
very few any integrity! Cowards !
…
In Guyana, when there is news of a massive 300 million barrel discovery in 1 square mile of a 50,000 square mile offshore block, we are pessimistic because the oil money is going to build more Hotel Towers Marriott’s and Pegasus Hotels of Dubai proportions that will be owned by the PPP members.
KARMA my friend will get them “eventually”
“ultimately” !
A tsunami or oil spill “natural or man made”
will do the trick/deed !
GT is prone to flooding … will a wall be built
to keep out the tide ? Like Trump wall to keep
out immigrants or keep in Americans !
Allow donkies vote they elect jackasses
Hee haw !
Off my soapbox
Kamtan🇬🇧🇬🇾🇬🇧
Oil spill going to damage Barbados blue waters. Exxon and these high tides been a problem since 2007 though. Coincidentally, it was from 2007 that Exxon was looking for oil. We are getting overtopping steady these days. I have a hunch that the drilling into the sea floor is creating aftershocks during high tide.