Kaieteur News has changed its stance on local content policy
Dear Editor,
I’m not surprised that Kaieteur News in its February 28, 2021 issue has shifted its position from supporting a strong local content policy for Guyana and all its citizens to aligning itself now with the International Oil Companies (IOC) to ‘water it’ down ‘and misleading the current policy, which is still a work in progress.
As a concerned member of the public who has been following the debates and discussion surrounding the Guyana Oil and Gas development, I saw this article titled “Ministry of Natural Resources Plagiarism Target of Local Content Regulations Ghana ”is misleading and spectacular.
I must remind readers that since the discovery of oil in 2015, the previous administration had done little to craft much less Local Content Policy implementation.
However, under the current PPP / C Administration, shortly after taking office he established a Presidential Local Content Advisory Panel that drew up ideas, suggestions and criticism from a wide cross-section of stakeholders over the past few months.
Subsequently, just over two weeks ago, a stakeholder consultation on Guyana’s draft Local Content Policy for the petroleum sector was conducted by none other than President Dr. Irfaan Ali, where ideas and suggestions for a comprehensive and inclusive Local Content Policy were once again shared. for the benefit of all Guyanese. Please note that work on the policy has not stopped there as a second tier of consultations is ongoing. The process is open and consultative to ensure that everyone is heard and that all views are brought forward for discussion.
The Kaieteur News needs to acknowledge that it is misled by the International Oil Companies to defy the ongoing negotiations for a strict Local Content Policy, which will be the culmination of contributions from a wide cross-sector of stakeholders. In summary, as a Guyanese, who is interested in the general development of Guyana, and therefore interested in local content policy, I am of the firm belief that the current government through broad consultations as we have seen will eventually deliver a final local. a content policy that maximizes the benefits for all Guyanese. This sector is new to all of us and we need to band together to ensure that this and future generations benefit from all our natural resources.
Truly,
E. Smith
Editor’s Note. Kaieteur News has consistently championed the need for a fair deal for Guyanese in the oil and gas sector.
This includes ensuring that Guyanese receive policies that are tailored to our national situation and that they are not wholesale cut and pasted from other jurisdictions.