Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo today hinted at a possible investigation into what he considers a historical conflict of interest relationship between ExxonMobil Guyana and recently elected Leader of the Alliance For Change, Nigel Hughes.
The Hughes, Fields and Stoby Law Firm, of which the recently elected AFC Leader serves as a senior partner, is one of the companies contracted by the oil company to provide legal services.
At a press conference from his Freedom House party headquarters, the Vice President today said the issue is beyond a client and company relationship.
“We are watching what Exxon and the others will do and the first-tier contractors and this may necessitate a formal investigation into all these matters. I am making it clear today. There is a lot of politically exposed people, he (Hughes) is politically exposed as he pointed out, his wife is a Member of Parliament, but it was not an issue because we didn’t want to discriminate but what change is that now he has gone to the AFC,” Jagdeo stated.
Mr. Hughes has been deemed a politically exposed person based on the Laws of Guyana.
Hughes has already declared that should he be elected to office as President or occupy any other positions of responsibility, he would end his relationship with the company.
The Vice President said now that Hughes is the Leader of a political party, his business relations with the oil company must come under scrutiny.
“Now that we are looking at this…let me make it clear, that Exxon has a lot to answer because Nigel Hughes, knowing him he will not want to resign, knowing him he would want to collect the money and still be leader of the AFC and conflict of interest would not bother him at all,” Jagdeo stated.
Although Hughes is now the Leader of the Alliance for Change, he previously served as the Chairman of the same party, and has been involved in politics for a number of years.
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