00:14The Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries released a statement today to clarify the status of its records concerning the
00:21authorization agreement for the fiscal measurement of the production of the Dragon Field between Venezuela and Trinidad and Tobago.
00:30Dominic Grammar, Pouncemore.
00:31In a media release today, the Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries says, quote,
00:36to date, no original executed agreements have been located within the Ministry's records as it relates to the Dragon Field.
00:44Furthermore, no copies of English translated versions of any agreements as it relates to the Dragon Field exist in the
00:51Ministry's records, end quote.
00:52Inquiries with staff members who were involved with the project also proved futile in locating the documents in question.
00:59Minister of Energy and Energy Industries, Dr. Rudal Munilal, says the inquiries have confirmed his worst fears.
01:06It confirms my worst fear that the minister may have taken a Spanish document in Port of Spain to the
01:14cabinet,
01:15and the cabinet would not have been able to understand it.
01:18In fact, the note in the minute was discussed and agreed and confirmed in record time so that there was
01:26absolutely no consideration or study of this important document, and the cabinet said, see.
01:33Munilal criticized the former Minister of Energy, Stuart Young, for his, quote, excessive negligence.
01:39This is appalling, as I indicated last Saturday, that former Minister Young could sign off, allegedly sign off, on a
01:49Spanish version of an agreement,
01:52but absolutely no sight of a verified and accurate, certified English translation.
02:00This is an act of negligence at full sight and a complete evidence of maladministration and a lack of proper
02:12governance.
02:13Dominic Ramroop, TV6 News.
02:15Well, when contacted for a response, former Energy Minister Stuart Young begged Energy Minister, Dr. Rudal Munilal, to get a
02:22new narrative.
02:23He said, if the Ministry of Energy cannot find the agreements in question, they should either, one, ask the Venezuelan
02:30government,
02:31two, ask NGC, three, ask the lawyers who advised and settled the agreements,
02:37or four, ask Shell, who were present with their lawyers and signed the agreements.
02:43Young went on to say that the minister's level of dishonesty and desperation is, quote, pitiful.
02:51Young went on to say that the minister's level of dishonesty is, quote, pitiful.
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