Shadow Minister of Legal Affairs, Roysdale Forde has formally approached the Commissioner of Information, Charles Ramson Snr., seeking a copy of the employment contract of Gopnauth ‘Bobby’ Gossai. Currently serving as the Senior Petroleum Coordinator at the Ministry of Natural Resources, Gossai has recently come under scrutiny for allegedly mishandling an audit related to significant expenses accrued by ExxonMobil Guyana Limited in the Stabroek Block from 1999 to 2017.
The audit, originally conducted by the British firm IHS Markit in 2019, examined US$1.7 billion in expenses. The auditors concluded that the Guyanese government could justifiably request a return of US$214 million from Exxon, as the multinational corporation failed to adequately account for the use of these funds. This assessment received a “no-objection” from the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), which acts as the government’s advisor on such financial matters.
Despite GRA’s subsequent advice for the audit to be closed and for Exxon to be duly informed of the disputed sum, the Ministry of Natural Resources’ Petroleum Unit negotiated with Exxon to reduce the amount from US$214 million to a mere US$3 million. This reduction was later acknowledged by the ministry as an unauthorized action, leading to impending disciplinary action against Gossai.
In the wake of these events, Forde penned a letter to the Commissioner, emphasizing the need to preserve public trust in the employment processes and contractual terms for pivotal roles like that of Gossai.
Forde’s letter also sought additional information, including a detailed job description for the Head of the Petroleum Unit, outlining the powers, responsibilities, and duties inherent to the position. The intent, as stated by Forde, is to aid in evaluating the competency and appropriateness of the appointed individual for the role.
Moreover, Forde expressed interest in understanding the selection process for the unit’s head, asking for details on advertisements for the position, required qualifications, interview procedures, and information on the selection panel. He also inquired whether Gossai’s remuneration package adhered to the standard governmental approval processes, regulations, and policies.
Forde has requested that all this information be furnished within a three-week timeframe.
In a parallel move, Forde dispatched a similar inquiry to the Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat seeking a copy of the investigative report on Gossai’s actions and his employment contract. He further asked Minister Bharrat to clarify the measures taken in response to the unauthorized negotiations—including disciplinary actions and policy changes—and any additional preventative steps. Forde said he expects a response to these requests within seven days to facilitate a comprehensive review.
