Speaker of the National Assembly, Manzoor Nadir today refused to have members of the House consider an Opposition motion which sought to discuss the High Court’s recent ruling against Stabroek Block operator and ExxonMobil affiliate, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL).
That ruling found EEPGL to be in breach of the insurance requirements in its Liza Phase One Permit. Such breach constituted the absence of an unlimited parent guarantee from ExxonMobil as well as an insurance package from an independent firm to cover the liabilities that would be owed by EEPGL.
The court has given the company as well as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) up to June 10 to ensure compliance. Failure to do so could see the permit being suspended.
The motion which was tabled by Opposition Member of Parliament, Ganesh Mahipaul was blocked on the grounds of the matter still being before the courts. The Speaker was keen to note that the EPA had filed an appeal on Monday.
The decision by the Speaker has been met with strong criticism by the opposition, which in a statement called the Speaker “biased and unpatriotic”. It also claimed that his actions are eroding public trust and prove that he is a puppet of the Executive arm.
“This ruling is indeed concerning. The role of the Speaker of the National Assembly is to be a neutral arbiter and ensure that all voices are heard in the democratic process. This Speaker is biased and unpatriotic. His actions continue to undermine the integrity of the democratic process. Further, his actions erode public trust and prove that he is a puppet of the executive arm of government,” the opposition chided.
In its statement, the opposition also emphasized the importance of protecting the Guyanese people from the environmental and economic impacts of offshore oil production, particularly in the event of an oil spill. It argued that the potential consequences could be devastating for the environment, fishing industry, and tourism sector, as well as the health and well-being of local communities.
It also indicated that while the government has been called upon to take the issue seriously and implement measures to protect the Guyanese people, the Speaker’s decision to prevent the motion from being discussed in Parliament has stalled progress on this critical issue.
In a separate statement issued yesterday, Opposition Leader, Aubrey Norton accused Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo of being unpatriotic, claiming that he is willing to fabricate issues to be able to sell the nation’s patrimony, rather than upholding the court’s decision.
The opposition has also claimed that Jagdeo and the government are intervening in the judicial realm and uttering unwarranted comments, indicating that they do believe in the rule of law and democracy but are practicing authoritarianism.
