As the South American country of Guyana prepares for elections, set to take place on March 2, 2020, ExxonMobil, operator at the Stabroek Block where oil production could begin within days, is making it clear that it will not be making contributions to any of the parties contesting.
Speaking to OilNOW on Wednesday at the company’s Kingston, Georgetown office, Deedra Moe, Senior Director, Public and Government Affairs, said ExxonMobil has operated in Guyana with different governments and will continue to work with any government that is elected moving forward.
“We do have a political contributions policy in place that prohibits us from contributing to any political party outside of the United States and we have not done that in Guyana nor do we plan to do any political contributions in Guyana,” she stated.
The long-anticipated elections will come after a no confidence vote was passed against the current administration in December 2018, resulting in a court challenge that went all the way to Guyana’s highest court – the Caribbean Court of Justice.
Since then, in addition to the governing coalition APNU+AFC and main opposition PPP/C political parties, several new parties have been established, signaling their intent to compete in the upcoming elections.
The Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has since set aside January 10, 2020 as Nominations Day at which time it would be determined which parties will be going to the polls.
