Minister of Public Telecommunications Cathy Hughes told Cabinet and later made public that she will recuse herself from all discussions relating to oil and gas to avoid a potential conflict of interest because her husband was establishing an office in Houston, Texas to attract oil business and the government supports her decision.
“I was out [of the country] when she did [tell Cabinet of her decision] and she made a public statement to that effect that any (oil and gas) matter she will recuse herself,” Minister of State Joseph Harmon told Stabroek News, when contacted.
“She is the type of person who would do that and says from heart what she has to say,” Harmon added
Following the September opening of a Houston, Texas office of the law firm Hughes, Fields and Stoby, of which the Public Communication Minister’s husband, Nigel Hughes is a director, local anti-corruption watchdog Transparency Institute of Guyana Inc. (TIGI) expressed concern that there may be a potential conflict of interest.
The Texas law firm was established to provide legal services to clients in the oil and gas sector from the convenience of a Houston office, where time and travel could be significantly reduced for those with busy schedules or seeking information on the sector here.
“Just the fact that Nigel Hughes is the husband of Minister Cathy Hughes means that there is a potential conflict of interest. I hasten to reiterate that I am not, neither is TIGI, attempting to attack or make accusations against anyone,” TIGI President Troy Thomas had said in response to questions asked by this newspaper.
In late October, Hughes had said that she was awaiting advice from Cabinet and one of the two attorneys she has consulted about any potential conflict of interest she might face in government deliberations on the oil and gas sector. She had also assured that in the interim she will recuse herself from such discussions.
Her decision to recuse herself was accepted by Cabinet and when oil and gas matters come up she will excuse herself Harmon said.
Hughes had declared in a statement that she had nothing to hide and disclosed that that she has also declared her assets and interests to the Integrity Commission and that Cabinet was informed about the intention of her husband’s law firm to open an office in Texas for oil industry clients. She, however, had stopped short of saying how she will deal with the potential conflict of interest.
When she was asked why she had decided to withdraw from oil and gas Cabinet meetings ahead of receiving advice, Hughes told reporters that the media was misunderstanding what she has said on the issue and it was of concern to her.
In providing clarity, she indicated that she previously said that if there were a discussion that had anything to do with oil and gas, “I would recuse myself.” She added that she said, too, that she had gone to independent legal advisors to have an idea of what else she should do.
“I have done all that was legally required of me. Legally you are required to respond and report to the Integrity Commission. Although many people, including the Opposition Leader said he ain’t report, Cathy Hughes reported long before this incident. So, they require me to report. They require me to inform Cabinet. I have done those. Nobody said to me go and get independent advice but I said in this situation let’s do that. There is precedence all over the world. This is not a new situation, so that is what we are looking at and I promise you that as soon as we get the guidance I would be more than happy,” she said.
TIGI had pointed out that ministers of government should give more than oral assurances to issues of conflict of interest and the Integrity Commission should lead the way in having sound policies to address the issue.
