Prominent Guyanese entrepreneur, Clinton Urling is calling on the government to amend legislation to address the unfair application of tax exemptions in the country’s oil and gas sector, a longstanding disparity that puts local businesses at a disadvantage.
Urling, proprietor of the popular German’s Restaurant and a member of a consortium of Guyanese firms providing catering services to the sector, aired his concern during a panel discussion at the 2025 Local Content Summit, on Tuesday.
“There’s lots of exemptions that go to international companies that are not afforded to our local companies, unfair on every level. And that is something that has to be addressed from a legislative level, meaning the government will have to address that and make it a priority,” the businessman said.
The Stabroek Block, where all of Guyana’s current oil production takes place, is operated by ExxonMobil in partnership with Hess and CNOOC. The consortium and its international subcontractors enjoy a wide range of incentives under the production sharing agreement (PSA), including exemptions from value-added tax (VAT), import duties, and corporate income tax.
Guyana’s Local Content Act, enacted in 2021, mandates that companies procure certain goods and services from Guyanese businesses. But the uneven application of tax breaks makes it harder for locals to compete.
The tax benefits were designed to spur exploration and development of the country’s offshore resources, but local stakeholders have repeatedly voiced concern that the same provisions are not extended to Guyanese companies seeking to support the industry.
Urling said the government must ensure that the smallest local business is granted the same tax reliefs as the multinational firms that secure major contracts in the sector.
