Former Natural Resources Minister, Raphael Trotman has responded to the withdrawal of a controversial Global Witness Report, “Signed Away” that was issued a month before Guyanese took to the polls.
See Trotman’s full statement below:
I have taken note of media reports which state that Global Witness has withdrawn its report, ‘Signed Away’ which was issued in February 2020 and which was severely critical of the agreement between the Government of Guyana and ExxonMobil and its partners, of me specifically, several of my Cabinet colleagues and former President David Granger.
I take note of Global Witness’ self-confessed “over-estimation” of projected oil production, the sole basis upon which their criticisms were levelled. The timing of the release of the report, a mere month before the General and Regional Elections of March 2, 2020, was neither coincidental nor without deliberate purpose.
It is now established, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that Global Witness allowed itself to be used to further political and economic interests prior to Guyana’s 2020 elections.
Now that the abominable, dirty deed is done, Global Witness finds it convenient to withdraw the report, not in part, but entirely and clumsily use the fig leaf of environmental causes. This is shameful and repugnant and constitutes subversive political interference in the affairs of a sovereign state’s electoral process in seeking to influence the outcome of an election.
This is against all tenets of sovereignty, non-interference, decency, fairness and balance.
Unfortunately, the damage has been done and the ‘Economic Hit Men’ get to go off sipping tea and laughing at another dirty deed accomplished.
I believe also that an excuse is being made to avoid an investigation, which I agreed with. The investigation should proceed in earnest and will receive my full and unequivocal support.
