As Guyana’s oil and gas sector continues to dominate national discourse, one of the opposition parties, the Alliance for Change (AFC) has prepared a comprehensive oil and gas policy, poised for release in the near future. At the party’s most recent press conference, AFC Leader Nigel Hughes confirmed that the policy, crafted after a lengthy deliberations and debates by its committee, is ready for publication.
However, across the aisle, the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and its leader Aubrey Norton remain tight-lipped, still dodging requests for their oil and gas policy for months despite claiming to have one.
During the press briefing, Hughes stated, “The policy is well prepared. It’s just a question between our manifesto committee, our PR committee, and an internal debate. But we are pushing to have it released. We are ready. Dr. Adams, Dr. Shameer, and I have already prepared it, and it’s just a question of timing.”
Hughes went on to emphasize that while politics plays a role in the timing of the release, the AFC has no intentions of withholding the policy indefinitely. “As you know, everything in politics is not just simply technical, and they’ve asked us to do a bigger release when we go public with it. But it’s there, and it’s ready.”
This level of transparency with oil and gas policy from the AFC is a sharp contrast to the behavior of APNU and its leadership. Norton has consistently skirted questions on APNU’s oil and gas policy, offering vague responses and claiming external threats as justification for the party’s continued silence. During a press briefing several months ago, Norton was asked why APNU had not yet disclosed its oil and gas strategy, to which he responded, “The government’s potential for political vindication is a serious concern. We have to protect those working on the policy from that kind of attack.”
However, this excuse is beginning to wear thin. While APNU continues to cite the possibility of government retaliation as a reason for secrecy, fellow opposition party, the AFC is also an opposition party that could be exposed to the similar political pressures it claims, but remains open about its policy and the committee members involved in its preparation.
Hughes, during today’s press conference, made it clear that the AFC has no qualms about sharing who was involved in the policy’s drafting. “We’ve got a great team. Myself, Dr. Vincent Adams—who has extensive experience in the oil sector—and Dr. Shameer. Our focus has been on ensuring this policy is comprehensive and addresses the pressing issues facing Guyana’s oil and gas industry. We are ready, and we’ll release it soon.”
On the other hand, Norton has refused to disclose the names of those working on APNU’s oil and gas policy, blaming the People’s Progressive Party/Civic government for its “vindictive” nature, further fueling speculation about the party’s internal workings. When pressed on the issue earlier this year, Norton deflected, saying, “The names of the committee members are not what matters right now. What’s important is that we’re working to develop a policy that will benefit all Guyanese.”
This reluctance to offer specifics raises a crucial question: If the AFC, a fellow opposition party, can openly discuss its oil and gas committee members and provide details on the policy’s preparation, why is APNU, under Norton’s leadership, unable or unwilling to do the same?
The public has been left to wonder whether there is, in fact, an oil and gas policy in the works at all within APNU. Norton’s repeated evasion of these questions does little to inspire confidence. If APNU is concerned about political vindication, why hasn’t the party found a way to ensure protection for its members while still delivering a policy to the Guyanese people? It is also important to note that the country is nearing its 2025 General and Regional elections and as customary political parties are already crafting and sharing their manifestos.
This difference in approach should lead the public to ask, “What exactly is APNU hiding?” The oil and gas sector is one of the most significant drivers of Guyana’s economy, and any political party positioning itself as a potential government must provide clear and actionable policies on the matter. If the AFC can do it, why can’t APNU?
As Hughes noted, “It’s important for the people of Guyana to know where we stand. The oil and gas sector is too important for us to be anything less than transparent.”
At one of his previous press conferences, Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo criticized Norton’s evasive stance. “You can’t lead an opposition and claim to represent the people’s interests while avoiding critical questions about the country’s most important sector. It’s one thing to oppose the government; it’s another to have no plan of your own. We have yet to hear a coherent oil and gas policy from Norton’s camp,” Jagdeo stated.
Jagdeo’s comments added to a growing chorus of voices demanding that APNU clarify its position on oil and gas.
The question now becomes: What is APNU so afraid of?
