The Government of Guyana has reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that all stakeholders have a voice in national discussions on transparency and accountability in the extractive sector, with Natural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat emphasising the importance of inclusive dialogue involving government, industry and civil society.

The commitment was reiterated during the recent Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) Board meeting and Global Conference in Brussels, Belgium.

Guyana recently secured a seat on the International Board of the EITI to represent the Latin America and the Caribbean region. Bharrat, while acting in that capacity, held discussions with outgoing EITI Chair Helen Clark, representatives from the Latin America and Caribbean region, and other key stakeholders.

During the engagements, he said the government remained committed to working with stakeholders in accordance with Guyana’s laws and EITI guidelines to ensure that different perspectives are represented and can contribute to the national dialogue on transparency in the extractive industries.

The minister also welcomed the EITI Secretariat’s ongoing efforts to promote broad representation and dialogue, in keeping with the EITI Civil Society Protocol, which outlines expectations for civil society participation in the initiative.

Guyana has been engaged with the EITI since 2010, as part of efforts to strengthen transparency and accountability in the management of its extractive resources. The country formally joined the initiative in 2017, complementing other government programmes aimed at improving transparency in the sector.

The renewed commitment comes as inclusive participation remains an important part of discussions on how information about the extractive industries is disclosed, understood and scrutinised by stakeholders.

Through its engagement with the EITI, the government says it will continue working with relevant parties to support transparency and ensure their perspectives contribute to discussions surrounding the sector.