Since being sent on 126 days leave in August, last, Vice President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo told reporters recently that Dr. Vincent Adams has not returned to his post as Head of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The reason for this he said is that the government is still in the process of assessing how Dr. Adams’ expertise can be better utilized in the new architecture being created for the management of the oil sector.
Guyana Standard had reported that Dr. Adams was sent on leave with immediate effect when the country was at the height of the review of the Field Development Plans for ExxonMobil’s Payara project in the Stabroek Block. Dr. Adams was one of the few individuals who was critical of the weaknesses in the oil giant’s plans, especially those that allowed for produced water to be dumped into the ocean.
Since his appointment in October 2018, Dr. Adams has also been a staunch advocate for the protection of Guyana’s environment.
In fact, he had pushed for Guyana to get unlimited liability coverage for ExxonMobil against all oil spills. And just a few weeks before being sent on leave, he had threatened to take ExxonMobil to court for refusing to pay a paltry fine of US$1,000 for spilling hydraulic fluid in the Stabroek Block.
(https://www.guyanastandard.com/2020/08/28/ramjattan-breaks-silence-on-oil-after-five-years-bashes-ppp-for-sending-epa-head-on-leave/)
As for Dr. Mark Bynoe, the Vice President said that he is not sure whether he will remain the head of the Energy Department since the heart of his academic studies and experience is firmly rooted in the area of the environment.
