Greater transparency not only from politicians, but from private sector

Dear Editor,
Recent comments by the former Petroleum Presidential Advisor, Dr Jan Mangal, provided for interesting reading; more particularly where he comments on the “stages of influence” that oil companies exert to make countries forfeit their wealth.
Dr Mangal has said: “The oil company and their agents will first influence the politicians. They do this very well. They do it all the time all around the world (in the rich countries as well). This has already happened in Guyana. Then they will influence the private sector by giving them some contracts. This has already happened in Guyana, judging by the words/actions of the private sector, judging by how some prominent Guyanese have suddenly gone quiet or changed their tune.”
The latter point, regarding the private sector, is particularly interesting. Politicians will be frowned on for having engagements (contracts, etc) with the oil companies, but what about the heads and executives of private sector groups?
Guyanese are treated to an endless stream of comments from private sector officials, which are portrayed as impartial positions. But how can we be sure? The answer, I think, and more so to lend greater credibility to voices from the private sector, could lie in there being full disclosure.
Maybe it is time that there is a declaration by private sector heads and executives, in particular, about what contracts or agreements they are engaged in with ExxonMobil. Maybe it is time that Guyanese are made aware of how these heads and executives of private sector groups are personally benefiting from the oil company.
Guyanese have also been treated to the trend where private sector groups bring in consultants for oil and gas forums; another attempt to lend credibility, in my view, to some of the positions taken. But we have seen that some of the very consultants who were brought in were linked to the oil companies – as was the case with Rystad Energy. It was Dr Mangal himself who pointed out that Rystad Energy was part of the company’s lobbying machinery.
I agree with Dr Mangal when he says: “The odds are stacked against Guyana, but Guyana can succeed.” But such success, I think, can be realised if we start with greater transparency from not only the politicians, but also from the private sector groups and their heads and executives.

Sincerely,
Baldeo Mathura