PM: Oil company buffed me

THE Prime Minister on Friday admitted to the Lower House to being chided by an unnamed foreign energy company for the Government’s account of his recent trip overseas to meet firms operating in TT.

In debate on a miscellaneous provisions bill that lets the Finance Minister know the Central Bank’s staffing and structure, Dr Rowley said these details are outside those of any confidential banking transactions whose sanctity he likened to those of deals in TT’s energy sector.

“We have to walk a very thin line between informing the public and preserving our commercial confidentialities. That’s what we do.

“After the Minister of Energy made his statement here telling the country what came out of our negotiations with oil companies, I didn’t here anybody say we had given too much information but I have received from one of those companies a complaint that what we said to the Parliament is in breach of the confidentiality they expect of us.

“I hope that means something to those of you, especially on the Opposition who were in government and understand what these things mean.”

Rowley hoped the Opposition were not demanding disclosures in order to damage the country.

“When you think we did not give you enough information, what we have given has already caused disquiet.”

He said TT must preserve its commercial advantages. “Don’t try to score points at the expense of destroying the country’s commerce that gives us a living.”

Rowley said oil companies had warned TT, during talks negotiations for better earnings for TT.

“They said to us, ‘We don’t want to create any new template that others may want to use. We operate all over the world. If we make a good arrangement with you, going beyond what we would normally do because of the circumstances in TT and your environment, then it ought to be covered by the confidentiality of the clauses.’” He asked why would TT shoot itself in the foot by demanding that commercial confidentiality such as gas price be published. “We’ll stand where it makes sense in protecting the interest of all the people of TT.”