There is no need for politicians to get involved in energy negotiations. That responsibility falls in the hands of technocrats.
The comment came yesterday from former Energy Minister and political leader of the Congress of the People Carolyn Seepersad-Bachan while speaking on the Morning Brew.
She drew reference to Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley's recent 10-day energy trip abroad where he met with executives of Shell, BHP and EOG Resources among others.
Seepersad-Bachan said Rowley, Energy Minister Franklin Khan and National Security Minister Stuart Young all sat at the negotiating tables.
"Is that necessary?"
She said the country has experts to guide the energy sector.
"They have technocrats in the Ministry of Energy who are all competent. What I saw happening there was a total marginalisation of the Ministry of Energy. There is no need for politicians at the end of the day...anyone with a political appointee getting involved in negotiations."
Such a move, Seepersad-Bachan said weakens governance.
Seepersad-Bachan said the job of the PM and his ministers are to set guidelines and make policies.
Under her stewardship as Energy Minister, Seepersad-Bachan said when there were negotiations her job was to ensure that the integrity of the process remained intact.
"But the actual determination, analysis and recommendations would come from the technocrats. They would sit with their counterparts in those multinational companies and they will negotiate."
The only time, a minister ought to get involved, she said was if there was a flaw with the negotiating process.
"Too many times in this country we give the impression that the multinationals are able to influence politicians into these negotiations and that has got to stop."