Alliance for Change (AFC) Leader and attorney-at-law Nigel Hughes has committed to ensuring a “firewall” is placed between his personal interests as the owner of a law firm representing US Oil giant, ExxonMobil and that of his public duties as a politician.
Hughes’ response comes against the backdrop of conflict-of-interest allegations, with the government accusing the newly minted AFC of putting advancing his personal duties over his national commitments as a presidential aspirant.
Earlier this year, Vice President, Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo said that the Stabroek Block operator, ExxonMobil Guyana cannot claim there is no conflict of interest with Hughes while he is still on the company’s payroll.
During a capping stack event in July 2024, Exxon’s President, Alistair Routledge was questioned by media regarding concerns that arose from Hughes’ dual roles as a political leader and partner at law firm, Hughes and Stoby which is a legal representative for ExxonMobil Guyana.
In response, Routledge had said, “We comply with all laws and regulations here and internationally. So, we don’t believe we have any conflict of interest, any issues.”
But Jagdeo noted that ExxonMobil Guyana cannot “judge their own conflict of interest”, reinforcing his stance that Exxon is indeed a conflicted party “because they have on their payroll in the country of Guyana, the leader of a political party”.
Hughes has since faced a barrage of criticism, with the latest coming from Dr Randy Persaud, who, via a Letter to the Editor, submitted a list of 15 questions to Hughes.
Questions 14 and 15 are as follow:
14. Since the law firm (Hughes, Fields, & Stoby), of which you are a partner, represents the interests of ExxonMobil Guyana (EMGL), and since you are the head of a political party, how will you resolve the obvious conflicts of interest that are bound to arise?
15. Can you clarify how you can possibly maintain your contractual obligations to EMGL, while at the same time further the national interest of Guyana, many of which are non-negotiable?
Hughes responded to question 14 saying that the relationship between his law firm and ExxonMobil is a professional one, governed by ethical standards.
“As a leader, I would ensure a firewall between personal interests and public duties, prioritizing national interest unequivocally. Legislative frameworks can further institutionalize such safeguards,” the AFC leader said.
With respect to question 15, the AFC Leader posited: “Dr. Persaud, governance is a constant commitment to constant improvement and I daresay that every leader makes mistakes. What is critical is that we work collectively as a nation to hold our leaders accountable and to look constantly for better solutions to enhance the lives of our people and I stand ready to lead with integrity, vision, and a focus on nation-building. The road ahead requires unity, collaboration, and a shared commitment to the prosperity of all Guyanese.”
