Minister of Energy and Energy Industries, Dr. Roodal Moonilal, has responded to statements by former Minister Stuart Young regarding the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) licence granted to Trinidad and Tobago.
In a press release issued on Friday afternoon, Minister Moonilal reminded Mr. Young that an OFAC licence for the production and development of the Dragon gas field was revoked under his tenure as Minister, and there was “absolutely no OFAC licence for pursuing the Dragon gas field” when the UNC administration assumed office six months ago.
Minister Moonilal stated that, in addition to the absence of a licence, documents related to previous negotiations on the Dragon gas field were found to be written in Spanish.
“There are no documents at the Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries in English that detail the terms of the former licence. This raises the question of whether the previous Minister left the Ministry with documents pertinent and relevant to the Dragon gas development. Further to this, whether the former Minister negotiated and signed terms and conditions in Spanish, as no documents in English related to the Dragon gas development can be located. Interestingly, at a press conference hosted today, the former Prime Minister appeared to be reading from documents pertaining to the Dragon gas matter.”
Minister Moonilal also responded to a press conference hosted by former Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley on Friday.
“Dr. Rowley has also stated erroneously that his administration did not spend TT$100,000,000 on the Dragon gas project. I wish to state categorically that, based on records at both the MEEI and the National Gas Company (NGC), the taxpayer paid in excess of TT$120,000,000 on the Dragon gas project.”
Minister Moonilal said that after four months of intensive work and significant interventions by all stakeholders, and under the leadership of Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, the Government was successful in attaining an OFAC licence which, as indicated by the Attorney General, will allow Trinidad and Tobago to pursue a viable pathway for the production and development of the Dragon gas field.
“The Attorney General was extremely forthcoming in reading the contents of the licence granted to Trinidad and Tobago under the present administration. Therefore, there is no secrecy. It was clearly stated to the population that it is a six-month licence that opens the door for negotiations and transactions pursuant to the Dragon gas development. It will be a phased process of negotiations, and we are committed to open governance and transparency within the law.”
Minister Moonilal said the Government will continue to move with urgency to conclude discussions and enter negotiations in an effort to arrive at an agreement that is in the best interests of the people of Trinidad and Tobago and all stakeholders.