The Minister with responsibility for Finance, Ashni Singh has called the Guyana Oil Company Board to an urgent meeting this afternoon, following allegations of an irregularity of acquisition in the entity and the subsequent resignation of its General Manager Trevor Bassoo.
“Since the matter was brought to my attention this morning, I have called the Board of Directors to a meeting this afternoon,” said Dr. Singh told Stabroek News when contacted.
Only six months from his appointment as General Manager, sources told this newspaper that Bassoo had tendered his resignation immediately.
The issue at the state-owned oil company follows allegations made by a fuel dealer that it was now left with a large amount of fuel on hand after some company officials committed that GUYOIL would buy it. The dealer claims to have evidence of the undertakings from company officials who also sought back kickbacks in return for the company’s purchase.
However, according to sources GUYOIL has no official records or documentation of a contract with the alleged supplier.
The Finance Minister said that a statement will be made on the matter after this afternoon’s meeting.
On November 2nd last year, GUYOIL announced Bassoo’s appointment as its new General Manager, which took effect from October 19th, 2020. He said in a statement that Bassoo had been interviewed and selected by the Board of Directors to join the company.
GUYOIL had said that Bassoo is the holder of BSc. in Computer Science from the University of Guyana, a CAT accounting qualification from the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, PhgC. in Business Administration from the University of Leicester and an MBA from the Australian Institute of Business.
GUYOIL had also noted that Bassoo had 20 years’ experience in public and private sector management and was currently completing his Commonwealth Master of Public Administration (CMPA) degree at the University of Guyana.