The controversial signature bonus with ExxonMobil was raised at a meeting at its Texas, USA headquarters in April, 2016 by head of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) Newell Dennison.
This is according to his report on the April 4-5 meeting in Woodlands, Texas, which the government has released following questions about who negotiated the agreement for the US$18 million signing bonus.
Dennison and Manager of the Petroleum Division Christopher Lynch attended the meeting with ExxonMobil subsidiary Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Ltd (EEPGL) for what was described as a technical caucus.