Energy consultant Anthony Paul, who was criticised by Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley for his comments on the Paria fuels purchase deal involving Petrojam, yesterday denied he was motivated by a “personal grouse.”Energy
In a media statement, he said his motivation in analysing and critiquing government policy and actions was “to ensure that the transparency and accountability measures already existing in our laws and regulations are implemented.”
Paul, the Chairman of the Lloyd Best Institute of the Caribbean and a director of the Natural Resources Governance Institute, said the case cited by Dr Rowley over failure to secure a government contract occurred more than ten years ago.
He explained: “For the record, the proposal in question was developed by a team of consultants in 2015 in response to our understanding of the conditions of the oil and gas industry, and specifically the capability challenges facing the Ministry of Energy, as policy maker and regulator.
“The firm saw the need for succession planning, as T&T’s sector leaders were all retired or approaching that stage. Our proposal was to support the Ministry in its day-to-day work, while coaching and mentoring staff, using methods that would facilitate knowledge transfer to aid the development of the next generation of leaders.”
Cabinet approved the programme but awarded the contract to a foreign firm, Paul said.
He added: “It is difficult to escape the irony of the public disclosure of a private firm’s financial bid by the head of a government that repeatedly refuses to disclose public fees actually paid by the Government to certain categories of private consultants, notably lawyers, on the grounds of security risks.
“Yet as a private individual, I am placed at risk by the implications conveyed by non-existent revenue earnings.”
Paul said for the past 20 years, he has contributed to discussion on the state of T&T’s oil and gas sector.
“Apart from my consultancy work, my public contribution is unpaid work, delivered with the sole intent of placing my expertise at the service of the public interest. This is how I contribute to the development of my country and others in need,” he said.
“Successive governments have also drawn upon my 40 plus years of experience in a wide range of roles and countries, calling on me to serve as Deputy Chairman and Chairman of the Cabinet-appointed Permanent Local Content Committee from 2004 to 2020, frequently without compensation.”