Obama’s rep. talks oil with Nagamootoo

May 28, 2016 News

Representative of President of the United States, Barack Obama, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Western Hemisphere Affairs for the Caribbean and Central America, Juan Gonzalez, on Thursday paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo, at his office.
He is in Guyana at the instance of Guyana’s Golden Jubilee celebrations.

PM Moses Nagamootoo (3rd r); US Ambassador Perry Holloway and US rep, Juan Gonzalez with Captain Robert Landolfi after the meeting on Thursday.

Gonzalez was accompanied by Captain Robert Landolfi of the US Coast Guard, who is also Special Advisor of the Western Hemisphere Affairs Office, and US Ambassador to Guyana, Perry Holloway.
“Prime Minister Nagamootoo and Mr. Gonzalez engaged in informal discussions, noting the continued strong friendship and relations between the two nations.
Prime Minister, on behalf of the people of Guyana, thanked Mr. Gonzalez for attending Guyana’s 50th anniversary celebrations on behalf of President Obama and asked that the nation’s gratitude be conveyed to President Obama.”
Nagamootoo noted that Mr. Gonzalez’s presence, as special representative of President Obama, elevated the international status of the Golden Jubilee celebrations.
He presented the party with memorabilia from Guyana’s 50th anniversary and sent a special gift of an exclusive Golden Jubilee lapel pin to be delivered to President Obama.
“Mr. Gonzalez noted that the US government is cognizant that the recent discovery of oil in Guyana’s waters has the potential to transform Guyana into a modern state and as a 21st Century Bridge between the Caribbean and South America.
He noted that this will require prudent management and oversight by the state and pledged the US government’s support to the government of Guyana in assisting in the process of setting up the requisite legal and other frameworks to ensure that the people of Guyana and future generations benefit from this monumental discovery.”
US-owned Exxon-Mobil last year discovered what appears to be huge reserve of oil in its offshore concessions. The findings are being assessed with more drilling planned.
Guyana is now preparing for oil production but the benefits are not likely for another five years.