Georgetown: President David Granger Wednesday made it clear that there will be “no sell-out” of the country’s natural resources to Trinidad and Tobago, deeming the suggestions as rumour and fear mongering.
The president was responding to speculations surrounding the State Visit by Trinidad and Tobago’s Prime Minister Keith Rowley and the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on energy cooperation. He said there is nothing in the agreement that seeks to harm any of the two states.
President Granger clarified that “it is no sell-out, there were some unjustified fears that Guyana is giving away the family jewels, that can’t be true. It is simply a means of collaborating. Trinidad is bringing years of experience not only in production but also in marketing, gas, oil spills, in dealing with multinational corporations.”
While echoing similar sentiments, Prime Minister Rowley said the MOU is simply a document to motivate the two sides to collaborate in areas of mutual benefit.
Prime Minister Rowley expressed disappointment at the suggestion of a “take-over” of Guyana’s fortunes by his country. “We are working towards ensuring that we as a people, not just as a people of Trinidad and Tobago, but as a people of CARICOM… Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, do better for all ourselves and to come up against that is disappointing,” he said.
As long as the two countries enjoy friendly relations, PM Rowley said, investments from Guyana would be welcomed, likewise, his country remains open to investing in Guyana.
He added that “my disappointment is not driven by any intention to school anybody or to reproach anybody.”
President Granger reminded that the two countries shared relations, spanning decades in both strategic and economic terms.
Under Article 3, the CARICOM Member States have agreed to establish an Executing Committee, comprising ministers responsible for energy on both sides. That committee will establish a Joint Working Group comprising a maximum of 10 representatives – five from each of the two countries.
“The Joint Working Group will identify and evaluate the feasibility of the projects and activities in pursuance of the objective of this MoU, and will advise on potential areas of cooperation between Guyana and Trinidad & Tobago in accordance with guidelines set by the Executing Committee,” Article 4:01 states.
The Joint Working Group, under Article 4 of the MoU is required to establish Joint Technical Teams, which would be expected to report to the Joint Working Group within three months of their creation; and receive, consider and make recommendations in writing with supporting documentation to the Executive Committee.
According to Article, the MoU does not provide any exclusivity or prohibit Guyana and Trinidad from entering into agreements of similar nature with third parties. The MoU is not a legally binding agreement; however, it is in effect for a period of five years.
Minister of State Joseph Harmon; Minister of Business Dominic Gaskin, Minister of Agriculture Noel Holder, Minister of Social Cohesion Dr. George Norton, Minister within the Ministry of Finance Jaipaul Sharma formed part of the Guyanese delegation while Trinidad’s Ministers of Energy, Sport and Youth Affairs, Planning and Development, and Agriculture and Fisheries accompanied Prime Minister Rowley.
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