With massive developments set to take place in the energy sector, specifically as it relates to the multi-billion-US dollar oil and gas subsector, there has been a rush for documentation for Guyanese citizenship says Vice President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo.
In light of this development, the official said government is being very cautious about how it grants those applications.
Jagdeo said, “We made it clear that the people of this country must benefit from the industry and that issue has been ventilated extensively about how we are going to protect Guyanese businesses and Guyanese persons in getting jobs. But we have to be very cautious because too suddenly people are coming in for passports and (other documentation).”
The Vice President added, “We have to be very careful; Guyanese citizenship has suddenly become enormously valuable for many people. Some people I know who would never look back to Guyana in all these years now they are looking for a great grandparent who had Guyanese blood to get a Guyanese passport…”
The former Head of State asserted that the government does not want to appear to be exclusionary but stressed at the same time that more locals have to benefit from opportunities in the sector. He said regional actors can still participate in the sector and enjoy the benefits afforded to locals in the Local Content Legislation by partnering with Guyanese and allowing them to enjoy 51 percent of the shares.
Thus far, Mr. Jagdeo said government is already putting in place the Local Content Secretariat which will handle its first task of creating a register of legitimate local companies and Guyanese. He said too that the government is getting some assistance from Ghana to get the ball rolling. The Vice President said the government intends to get the foregoing in place in six months.
“But I think the signal has already been sent to the oil companies and they recognize that they have to work with Guyanese companies in the prescribed areas in the act…We may need to adjust if the local capacity is overestimated, and we may have to give some waivers but as we go along, we will improve on this to get business to our people. We should fiercely as a country defend our right to do this,” expressed the Vice President.
He concluded, “We will do whatever it takes to level the playing field.”
