The head of the government’s petroleum unit, Gopnauth `Bobby’ Gossai will lose 15 days’ pay and receive a warning over the unauthorised discussions with ExxonMobil that resulted in a disputed expenses figure being slashed from US$214.4m to US$3m.
This was disclosed today by the Ministry of Natural Resources in response to questions from Stabroek News.
The Ministry said that in keeping with public service rules the maximum fine available is 15 days’ pay.
That will be seen as a slap on the wrist for a transaction that could have resulted in Guyana losing US$105.7m in profits.
Analysts has said that Gossai should have been the subject of a police investigation to determine exactly how and why he entered into unauthorised discussions with the US oil company. There were calls for an independent probe of the matter but none was done. The Minister of Natural Resources Vickram Bharrat issued his own report on the unauthorised engagement and that was the basis used to decide on the disciplining of Gossai.
The response issued by the ministry follows:
Gov’t exercises disciplinary actions
Kingston, Georgetown, Guyana (October 26, 2023) As you are aware, the matter regarding the audit of the Stabroek Block expenses for the period 1999-2017 has been ventilated publicly and in the media, and has been addressed by policymakers. It should be noted that an investigation was initiated and the outcome was communicated by the Minister of Natural Resources, Hon. Vickram Bharrat M.P., through a public statement.
Upon the conclusion of the investigation, it was ascertained that the Senior Petroleum Coordinator in the Ministry of Natural Resources, Mr. Gopnauth B. Gossai Jr. was involved in unauthorized engagements which resulted in the ministry being brought into opprobrium.
A review of the facts emanating from the investigation has confirmed that the discussions were never approved at any of the mandatory levels. Against this backdrop, Mr. Gossai has been disciplined in keeping with Public Service Rules for the offence of negligence.
In this regard, and in keeping with the Public Service Rules, it was approved that the maximum fine in the amount of 15 days’ pay be instituted against Mr. Gossai for the said offence. Additionally, in keeping with Public Service Rules a warning has been issued to Mr. Gossai.
