NTC wants parliamentary engagement on Petroleum Commission Bill

The National Toshaos Council (NTC) has written the Clerk of the National Assembly seeking an engagement with the Parliamentary Select Committee on the Petroleum Commission Bill, to offer their input before the passage of the piece of legislation.
“We are seeking to do a presentation to the Committee on this issue, to satisfy this inclusive consultative process on this very important Bill. We are furnishing this request in recognition of our rights under Article 9 and Article 13 respectively, of Guyana’s Constitution”, the letter stated.
The letter was sent on Wednesday.
Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman, presented the Petroleum Commission Bill for the first time in the National Assembly.
The Bill intituled (gives title to a legislative act) an Act to provide for the establishment and functions of the Petroleum Commission of Guyana and for related matters. The six-part bill has 51 sections, which cover areas pertaining to the establishment and incorporation of the Petroleum Commission, functions and duties of the Commission, and financing, among other things.
The Petroleum Commission Bill makes provision for the establishment of a Petroleum Commission to serve as a regulatory agency for Guyana’s oil and gas industry. The establishment of a new regulatory agency will see responsibility for the oil and gas sector being taken from the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC).
Minister Trotman, moving for the bill to go to Special Select Committee, contended that the bill would be better served if it has “the benefit of a bipartisan look” before it is passed into law. The bill was recommended for consideration by the minister, who noted, “The entrance into the House is timely, necessary, and is a progressive step” for Guyana.
The Petroleum Commission will be semi-autonomous, and the bill’s construct is similar to agencies such as the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) and the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC). Like the GFC and GGMC, the Petroleum Commission would also have a reserve fund.
The bill was composed with input from the Commonwealth Secretariat’s Oceans and Natural Resources Advisory Division.