Guyana Post Friday February 12, 2021
ALI PROMISES STRONG LAWS FOR OIL SECTOR
President Irfaan Ali has signalled his intention to punish his Finance Minister and the Finance Secretary if all oil and gasrelated transactions are not published. Addressing the National Assembly today, Ali has noted that he intends to introduce legislation
aimed at promoting the transparency of all revenue and expenses relates to oil and gas sector. “My Government intends to account from the nations for every earned from the industry and for every cent that is spent. To accomplish this legislation will be made
during this session of the national assembly, making the finance minister and the Finance Secretary responsible for publishing details of all revenue and expenditure in the official gazette allowing people to track all transactions. Fail to do so, will be punished severely under the law,”
the President told the House The President explained that the new legislation that will be enacted, would ensure that the Guyanese people keep track, of how the oil and gas sector is being run by the Government. President Ali pointed to
the transformation that the sector is expected to bring to the country as he said its revenue must benefit Guyanese. “The right to make decisions in our national interest, while the prospect for the oil and gas wealth is now real. It could dissipate if we fail to take the
necessary steps to ensure that Guyana’s interest and its rightful income is safeguarded.” Ali said The Head of State promised a robust laws that would guide investment, guide Guyana’s negotiations with oil companies and a Local Content Policy.
Opposition MPS protest President Ali’s presence at Parliament The APNU-AFC Opposition today protested President Irfaan Ali’s presence in the National Assembly. The Parliamentary opposition MPs have labelled the President’s presence as disrespect to the House The APNU-AFC MPs were not present in the House for the President’s address. The lone opposition MP was Deputy Speaker Lennox Shuman. Chanting “fraud is a fraud”, the opposition MPs stood at the entrance of Arthur Chung Conference Center where the National Assembly is being held. Leader of the Opposition, Joseph Harmon described
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the action as peaceful, “we are here today to basically protest the statements which would be made by President Ali in the Parliament,” Harmon said “In fact, you recall that we spent 133 days during last year recounting ballots that were cast at the second of march election and this place is the place where the fraud which was discovered that benefited the PPP that is on the basis in which PPP Regine now exercises governance” Mr. Harmon said. Harmon blasted the government for failing to consult with the parliamentary opposition as well as his constitutional office as he said his members
represent more than half of the voting population. “We have a situation in which that regime has failed to recognize and fail to recognize the representative, the legitimate representative of over 217,000 persons whom we represent in that house and so that
disrespect in which he has shown to us,” Harmon pointed out, “If you disrespect me outside my house, You cannot come into my house and disrespect me,” he said. Even as the protest continued on the arrival of the Head of State,
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Opposition MP. Sherod Duncan claimed that he was assaulted by the ranks of the Guyana Police Force with clear directions from authorities. The confrontation occurred when opposition members were told that they cannot
get close to the ACCC with their placards. A move, the opposition labelled this hypocritical as they argued that the then opposition PPP was allowed to protest President David Granger in a similar way.
