The Department of Energy (DOE) , Ministry of the Presidency, which is to steer the oil and gas sector, this week advertised for an office manager and accountant.
An advertisement appearing in the last Sunday Stabroek also identified the need for a procurement officer and confidential secretary.
Since the surprise announcement by the Ministry of the Presidency that environmental economist Dr Mark Bynoe has been appointed to head the department, questions have been raised as to when oil and gas experts will be hired for the tasks ahead.
Bynoe has no experience in the oil and gas industry. He was handpicked by President David Granger despite earlier assurances that there would be a wide search for candidates globally to head the DOE.
Major oil and gas issues remain on the agenda including the piloting of the revised Petroleum Commission bill, discussions on the green paper tabled for the Sovereign Wealth Fund, beefing up the capacity to audit the operations of ExxonMobil, local content legislation, strengthening the environmental response system and how to allocate remaining oil blocks among a host of other issues.
Analysts say experts would have to be hired in these areas and there is no sign yet that such skills are being recruited.
