In order for an investigation into the distribution of oil blocks to be successful or even be taken seriously, the State Assets Recovery Agency (SARA) must be kept at bay, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo has said.
During a press conference he hosted earlier today, Jagdeo claimed that the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) is not opposed to a probe into the distribution of oil blocks under President Donald Ramotar. However, he said that SARA is unfit for such a purpose.
Jagdeo said, “For years they [SARA] were not investigating anything that the public was calling for; suddenly they are investigating what happened under the PPP regime when Ramotar was president. We have no problem with such an investigation but, for any investigation into oil and gas contracts, the award of the contracts, what took place at the negotiation, for that investigation to have credibility, you cannot have SARA do it.”
Jagdeo suggested that the government hires an international agency to do the job.
“Hire a solid international firm with a reputation, not have Clive Thomas who is a member of their party.”
Further, Jagdeo opined that SARA has proven to be “tainted” and “partial.”
This media house asked Jagdeo if he was willing to vouch that any investigation would not implicate any minister from the Donald Ramotar Government.
Jagdeo said, “I don’t know about a former minister being implicated, et cetera, because that is conjecture. All I am saying is if you want to do the investigation, we will support it but hire an impartial group to do it, it cannot be SARA. SARA is pro-government.”
The news of the investigation by SARA into the oil blocks was first reported by Bloomberg.com which quoted the agency’s head, Dr Clive Thomas, as saying that the Stabroek, Kaieteur, and Canje Blocks, all operated by ExxonMobil, will be part of the inquiry, as well as the Orinduik Block operated by Tullow. The Kaieteur and Canje Blocks were given out by the Ramotar administration just days before the 2015 General and Regional Elections.
