GEORGETOWN, Guyana — Guyana’s Ministry of Natural Resources on Tuesday issued a sharp rebuttal to recent claims by Policy Forum Guyana (PFG), insisting the country remains fully aligned with international transparency standards as it advances its obligations under the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI).
The ministry said PFG’s assertions—chiefly that the Multi-Stakeholder Group (MSG) had been “inactive” without notice—are “demonstrably false,” pointing to official correspondence from October 2024 acknowledging and extending MSG members’ terms. The ministry said the letters were publicly available and widely circulated, contradicting PFG’s suggestion it was blindsided.
The dispute comes as Guyana intensifies reporting and oversight requirements for its rapidly expanding oil, gas and mining sectors. The EITI, implemented in 55 countries, requires governments, companies and civil society groups to jointly oversee disclosures and promote accountability.
Responding to PFG’s criticism of the placement of the national EITI Secretariat within the ministry, officials noted that more than 90 percent of EITI-implementing countries house their secretariats in a government agency. Only Nigeria and Liberia have opted for autonomous statutory bodies, the ministry said, making Guyana’s model “entirely within global practice.”
The ministry also dismissed PFG’s objection to the recent open call for a civil society convenor—an administrative step required by the EITI Standard—arguing that PFG raised no similar concerns when it itself held the convenor role since 2017. Officials said the convenor “has no influence whatsoever” over who is selected to serve on the MSG, a key safeguard built into the process.
The back-and-forth highlights growing scrutiny around transparency in Guyana’s extractive industries, which have become central to the country’s economic trajectory. Government officials said they remain committed to ensuring free participation by civil society while protecting the integrity of the EITI framework.
“The Ministry of Natural Resources continues to work faithfully to fulfill all requirements of the EITI Standard,” the statement said, adding that the government “remains deeply committed to accountability” as the sector evolves.
Analysts say the dispute underscores the balancing act between robust oversight and the tensions inherent in a fast-developing resource economy. For now, the ministry insists Guyana’s process stands on firm footing—fully compliant, globally consistent, and ready for continued scrutiny at home and abroad.