Former Energy Minister, Stuart Young is calling on the government for more answers relating to the new OFAC Licence.
The MP says, it was the government which was in opposition at the time, that was demanding answers over the previous OFAC licence and the Dragon Gas Deal.
00:00Former Prime Minister and Energy Minister Stuart Young, senior counsel, has taken note of the announcement by the United National Congress government concerning its acquisition of an Office of Foreign Assets Control, or OFAC, license for the drag and gas field in Venezuela.
00:16Young says, quote, As a citizen, I will always want and welcome what is best for us in Trinidad and Tobago. Having walked the road of pursuing and securing the 30-year license for the drag and gas field, as well as several OFAC licenses, I have noted that the government has announced what sounds like some sort of six-month provisional type OFAC license, end quote.
00:39But the Member of Parliament for Port of Spain North St. Anne's West believes the country has not been provided with enough information by Attorney General John Jeremy, senior counsel, when he made the announcement today.
00:52Young is calling for answers as he urges the government to provide details to inform the population of the terms and conditions of the six-month OFAC license.
01:01He says, quote, For example, can Shell and NGCP pay the Venezuelan government for the gas?
01:08This is the government that, when in opposition, had called weekly for details on this exact deal.
01:14The PNM government consistently kept the population apprised of what was going on, unlike the current government, whose new posturing is both ironic and hypocritical, as they now claim confidentiality as a reason not to inform the population, end quote.
01:31Young further states that it was the UNC that used the term secret deal when referring to the work that was done to secure the license for the dragon field under the former PNM government, a narrative, he says, that was sold to the country.
01:44He indicates that it transpired, although the license was published in the Venezuelan Gazette and the public.
01:51Young says, quote, Again, I urge the government to be transparent on the terms of this provisional six-month OFAC license.
01:58And more importantly, please tell us, what did you, the UNC, promise in order to get it?
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