Extractive industries report silence can jeopardise Guyana – policy forum

Last Updated on Friday, 4 July 2025, 13:43 by Writer

The Guyana Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (GYEITI) has been effectively inactive for the past six months, following the publication of its sixth annual report in December 2024, Policy Forum Guyana (PFG) said Thursday.

“Since then, all functions of the Initiative have come to a halt, with no formal explanation offered by the Ministry of Natural Resources or the GYEITI National Secretariat,” the organisation said in a statement.

The Ministry of Natural Resources did not immediately comment on the issue. Back in July, 2023 the Norway-headquartered Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), a global watchdog against corruption in oil and gas, mining and quarrying, forestry, and fisheries sectors, had lifted its suspension of Guyana after the country met the deadline to submit its 2020 report. At that time, the government had blamed well-known civil society activists Mike McCormack and Vanda Radzik for the suspension.

PFG said repeated attempts by members of the multi-stakeholder group (MSG), including representatives from civil society and the extractive industry, to clarify the status of GYEITI and the appointment of new MSG members, have gone unanswered or without any requisite action. The Forum said the International EITI Secretariat has also made multiple enquiries, none of which has resulted in the required response and action necessary.

In January 2025, PFG—formally tasked with coordinating the MSG-Civic elections—submitted the list of new civil society nominees to the Ministry of Natural Resources for the required formality of ministerial letters of appointment. “To date, no acknowledgment or response has been received, despite multiple follow-ups in writing and by phone from both local stakeholders and international EITI entities,” PFG said.

PFG warned that that lack of engagement poses significant risks for Guyana. Notably, the organisation said, the production of the Seventh Annual Report is now delayed, jeopardizing Guyana’s compliance with EITI standards. “A previous missed deadline led to the country being placed on probation,” the Forum recalled.

GYEITI’s second Validation is due later this year. The first Validation yielded only very modest, and some failed, results. A second potential failure—particularly without a functioning MSG—could result in suspension from the global EITI initiative, according to PFG.

The Forum says the situation has raised alarm at the international level, and has been referred by the International Secretariat to the EITI Board.

While responsibility for formalizing MSG appointments lies with the Minister of Natural Resources, PFG says concern has also grown regarding the conduct of the GYEITI National Secretariat. Its refusal to provide updates or defend the integrity of the process has heightened scrutiny of its current leadership.

PFG added that the National Coordinator’s three-year tenure has been marked by a persistent refusal to recognize the MSG as the Secretariat’s oversight body. “Instead, the National Coordinator has operated as an extension of the Ministry of Natural Resources, raising further concerns given his lack of qualifications or experience in the extractive industries, and the perceived politicization of the role. Since the end of the National Coordinator’s 3-year contract early this year, we are unaware of any public call or public advertisement inviting suitable candidates to apply for the position of National Coordinator of the National GYEITI Secretariat – which is the procedure for GYEITI transparent contracting of the National Coordinator.”

“The stalled appointment of the MSG and its non-functioning for the past six months, the impending Validation, and concerns over leadership, competence and independence of the National Coordinator require urgent action. Continuing silence will undermine Guyana’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and good governance in the extractive sector,” the Forum added.