Trotman sponging off of Jagdeo’s success in the Natural Resources Sector

Dear Editor,

Kaieteur News Thursday 30 June reported Minister Trotman saying former president Jagdeo is uttering all but trash when it comes to management of the natural resources sector.

Let’s examine the progress Min Trotman is saying he has made under the MNR and whether he or Jagdeo is saying trash; it appears he wants to sponge off Jagdeo’s illustrious achievements in the Natural Resources Sector.

ExxonMobil investment and licensing contract was made under the PPP/C and Jagdeo’s administration. In fact oil was found before the APNU came to office so not sure why Min Trotman is trying to glorify himself and APNU/AFC for this achievement .Ten points BJ and zero points to RT.

The Norway Agreement was signed, sealed and delivered under Bharrat Jagdeo administration and Presidency. No question about that. All the monies in the GRIF account was earned and paid under the PPP/C.

So exactly why Min Trotman is claiming achievement for this? Can he explain why after the first agreement ended nearly one year ago there is not a signed success or continuation or phase 2 agreement, rather Norway gave a no cost extension to the old agreement.

Can he explain what the status of the green economic plan is? Who is drafting this plan? Why no consultation with the stakeholders on it? Has it been approved by cabinet or submitted to parliament like the LCDS? This seems to be a mystery document.

Also can Min Trotman update the public on how much funds were deposited into the GRIF account since he became Minister? I believe zero.

One task Trotman probably ensured was EITI and he is jumping around getting World Bank and a plethora of consultants, international bodies, etc to do and still no real progress on ETTI. Not even an application for candidacy has been made to date, its reported this will be done until November. Imagine a simple multistakeholder committee to set up to oversee the EITI , a world Bank consultant has to come in and setup for us and tell us what to do.

So again Min Trotman is trying to score cheap points from the Jagdeo initiative. Ten points BJ, zero points to RT. The increase in gold production is as a result of the operation of the TWO LARGE GOLD MINES, Guyana Gold Fields and Troy Resources. Obviously these investments were made under the PPP/C and Jagdeo leadership.

The now Government and Trotman is reaping the benefits of the investments that were made and almost completed under the PPP/C.

So again Min Trotman is trying to cheat Jagdeo.

Timber also seems to be down and not up unless the minister of finance is misleading the public with his numbers on the timber sector.

So in essence Min Trotman has little or no achievements and what he is claiming as achievements are actually projects signed, seal and delivered by the PPP/C and more so Jagdeo and which is now moving into operations like ExxonMobil and the gold mines. For the public interest maybe Min Trotman should make a list of the new projects that has been initiated by him and his ministry and government, and which is in progress, a list of the new investments or investors by sector made under him and in general exactly what achievements were or are being done by him and sponged off Jagdeo.

After all Bharrat Jagdeo is a modern day icon and genius and will no doubt go down as one of the World’ s best Presidents and advocate for climate change.

This is what hurts and will continue to hurt Min Trotman and the APNU/AFC.

Yours Sincerely,

Carl Lucas