By Jomo Paul
[www.inewsguyana.com] – Officials from the Local United States Embassy have confirmed that to date there has been no interference in the work of ExxonMobil by Guyana’s neighbour to the west, Venezuela.
Venezuela had raised strong objections to ExxonMobil drilling in the Stabroek Block offshore the Essequibo Coast citing that the area was currently the subject of a territorial dispute between Guyana and Venezuela.
On Tuesday, March 17 US Embassy officials confirmed that thus far, ExxonMobil which is a US Company has not reported any interference from Venezuela despite its earlier rejections.
“Based on the Embassy’s most recent conversations with ExxonMobil and the Government of Guyana, exploratory drilling at the site selected on the Stabroek block is proceeding satisfactorily,” said Charge d’affaires, Brian Hunt.
According to Hunt, at this point, there is no suggestion of any interference with ExxonMobil’s work on the Stabroek block.
He said “the United States of America would take a negative view of any interference by any government with the legitimate activities of any American company.”
Last Monday, the United States declared Venezuela a national security threat and ordered sanctions against seven officials from the oil-rich country in the worst bilateral diplomatic dispute since socialist President Nicolas Maduro took office in 2013.
When asked if those sanctions would affect the work of the US company, Hunt responded in the negative pointing out that none of the sanctions were economic.
He also related that Venezuela’s opposition to the ExxonMobil project predates the financial and visa restrictions that the United States has imposed on select individuals responsible for gross human rights violations in Venezuela.
“Venezuela’s own statements make clear the basis for its objections to the project, which are not based on such restrictions. The United States has not imposed broad-based economic sanctions on Venezuela. In fact, the United States of America remains Venezuela’s largest trading partner and an important destination for that country’s petroleum exports,” he noted.
