GEORGETOWN: The Guyana government has defended the decision to purchase oil from T&T saying it believes it has a responsibility and obligation to ensure there will be no shortage of fuel in the country.
“It is the Government’s commitment to ensure that there is a reliable and regular supply of fuel, to drive industry in this country, and we as a government will do what is necessary in the public interest, to ensure that the wheels of industry continue to turn,” said the Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, as he explained the background regarding the agreement to purchase fuel from T&T.
Harmon said Cabinet had been briefed on the matter by the Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson.
Guyana has been purchasing fuel from Venezuela under the PetroCaribe arrangement, but there have been occasions when shipments arrived late.
“A few weeks ago, the vessels that had gone to Venezuela to collect fuel, they were not provided with the fuel on time, and this type of ‘on and off’ arrangement, we have to ensure that we have an alternative arrangement put in place, to ensure that this will not lead to a shortage of fuel in Guyana,” Harmon said.
“We have both arrangements in place, a standby arrangement, which we will utilise from Trinidad and Tobago, and the PetroCaribe arrangement, which is in place by contract,” he said.
Questioned on the feasibility of the new arrangement, Harmon said: “We do not see or feel that this arrangement will put in jeopardy any of the users of petrol/fuel in the country; in fact, it is feasible, the terms are very favourable for us and I believe that we have a commitment from that country for the supply of petrol.
“The financial arrangement is no less favourable than that which we receive under the PetroCaribe agreement.”
He said T&T is aware of Guyana’s arrangement with Venezuela through the PetroCaribe agreement. In the event there is a shortfall or a problem with that agreement, the Trinidad facility will be there to cushion the effect.
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