Five Ministers visit Exxon H/Q in Texas

Aug 13, 2017 News, http://www.kaieteurnewsonline....t-exxon-hq-in-texas/

… to “familiarize” themselves with oil and gas matters

Five senior ministers of the Government of Guyana are currently in Irving, Texas, visiting with officials of ExxonMobil.

Those on the trip are Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman; Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan; Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson and Minister of Business, Dominic Gaskin.

The team reportedly left early last week.

Usually, an announcement is made to the press about upcoming visits to be made by Ministers, but this instance was different.

Not a single word about the trip was made during Minister Harmon’s last post-Cabinet press briefing.

One usually reliable source has expressed concern that the Minister left to go speak with Exxon officials in Texas, but took no technical persons. The source said, “They are Ministers they should not be the ones going there to speak with Exxon’s people, they do not know what is going on.”

The person contended that “even if Ministers wanted to go, technical people are supposed to accompany them. This spells recipe for disaster.”

The trip was confirmed by a very senior government official who said that the Ministers are not in Texas to negotiate with ExxonMobil but to “familiarize” themselves with the oil and gas-related matters.

The facts about many areas of Guyana’s developing oil and gas industry are being treated as state secrets. The contract between Guyana and ExxonMobil is under lock and key.

Further, even the names of those who have and are continuing to negotiate on Guyana’s behalf are being kept a secret.

At a post- Cabinet press briefing, Harmon said that the government is not ready for the Guyanese people to know the names of the main professionals negotiating with ExxonMobil.

He told the media, “I cannot say specifically who else was there (at the negotiating table).

Those matters are still under wraps, so I cannot give specific names to you. But, what I can say is that the matter was led by the competent Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman, and the government has all confidence in that Minister to lead the sector and to lead any negotiation in the best interest of the people of Guyana.”

Five Ministers visit Exxon H/Q in Texas

Aug 13, 2017 News, http://www.kaieteurnewsonline....t-exxon-hq-in-texas/

… to “familiarize” themselves with oil and gas matters

One usually reliable source has expressed concern that the Minister left to go speak with Exxon officials in Texas, but took no technical persons. The source said, “They are Ministers they should not be the ones going there to speak with Exxon’s people, they do not know what is going on.”

The person contended that “even if Ministers wanted to go, technical people are supposed to accompany them. This spells recipe for disaster.”

Perhaps, the ministers are extremely versed in the oil and gas industry that they need no assistance from others.

We have yet to hear from the slop can crew why these 5 Ministers blowing out taxpayers dollars on overseas trips.  They used to cry day and night when PPP took overseas trips. Now it looks like what is right for Peter is not right for Paul. 

So are these going to be the five wealthiest men in Guyana?

When these guys return they should be forced to be anove board regarding the contract. What do they have to hide?

Let's see if Gaskin will also stand quiet.

They should be forced to be above board ?????

Will never happen under the astute guidance of Joseph Harmon.

Four, not five ministers went to Texas

Aug 14, 2017 News, http://www.kaieteurnewsonline....sters-went-to-texas/

Minister Joseph Harmon did not travel to Texas with other ministers as was reported Sunday. In the wake of the article, he explained yesterday that he had travelled to New York and not with the group that headed to Texas. Kaieteur News regrets the error.

There was information that five Ministers were headed to Texas. Usually the government would announce the itinerary of officials leaving these shores. There were no announcements of the visit in this case.

How come Ranjaat and Naga didn't get to go to Texas?