Shadow Oil Minister Calls on Government to End Information Blackout Regarding Oil Wealth

According to Kaieteur News, Sharma Solomon, the Shadow Minister of Natural Resources for the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), has called upon the Government of Guyana (GoG) to stop treating Guyanese as spectators of their oil wealth, pointing to a lack of information concerning the sector. In a letter to the editor this week, the APNU Member of Parliament characterized this lack of information as more than just disrespect, suggesting it was a deliberate attempt by the administration to hinder national planning.

Solomon cited the recent Rockhead-1 discovery as an illustration of the GoG's failure to keep Guyanese informed about their own natural resources. He noted that ExxonMobil's Vice President of Global Exploration, John Ardill, disclosed the discovery during the Energy Intelligence Forum in London on October 5-6, 2026, before the Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat, confirmed the discovery later.

Solomon further contended that Guyanese have been forced to accept information provided by ExxonMobil on multiple occasions. He mentioned that in June 2026, ExxonMobil informed its investors that its estimated resource base in Guyana was under 11 billion oil-equivalent barrels, and that the company's public statements regarding cost recovery and operational progress preceded explanations from the Government to Guyanese.

Despite the existence of multibillion US-dollar audits, Solomon stated that the government has remained silent while the company shared information with its investors. The MP asserted that ExxonMobil's disclosures to its shareholders and investors contained details about cost recovery and the financial structures governing its operations, whereas Guyanese were left awaiting an explanation from the Government regarding what was being recovered, what was disputed, and what the country was entitled to receive.

Solomon insisted that the GoG must account for why Guyanese are repeatedly receiving information about their own resources from ExxonMobil. He argued that the people of Guyana own these resources and possess a right to be informed, and that this right should be prioritized.

Solomon also expressed concern over the government's silence on the nation's oil reserves, even with new discoveries. Since 2022, Guyana's oil reserves were estimated at 11 billion barrels, a figure that has not increased despite announcements of new oil discoveries. He demanded that the Government explain how these resources are assessed, why the figures have not increased as anticipated, and what the latest discoveries signify for Guyana's future.

Bharrat Jagdeo, the Vice President and Chief Policymaker for the oil and gas sector, mentioned the need for a Verified Natural Resources Revenue and Evidence Bank to compile reliable data on discoveries, production, cost recovery, audits, contracts, and revenues.

The MP strongly maintained that Guyanese must be able to comprehend how their resources are managed and how the wealth is being utilized for national development. He argued that the delayed release of information is not only disrespectful but also impedes proper national planning, as the public cannot determine the necessary investments for education, healthcare, infrastructure, and public services if they are kept unaware of the available resources.

In addition to the Rockhead-1 announcement, Guyanese recently learned of a new major discovery in the country through an international news correspondent, Marc Roussot, following an interview with ExxonMobil Vice President and Head of Global Exploration, John Ardill. Roussot reported that ExxonMobil had made a