TT/Venezuela pact was no secret

IN AN obvious response to the Barbados government’s accusations that the Trinidad and Tobago Government deliberately concealed the Memorandum of Agreement with Venezuela for the exploitation of mineral resources,  the Ministry of Energy yesterday released all the details of the agreement. And the Ministry made it clear that when the MOU was signed in August 12, 2003, it was the subject of “extensive coverage” by the news media of both Trinidad and Tobago and Venezuela. In the release, the Ministry pointed out that members of the news media of Trinidad and Tobago accompanied the government delegation to Venezuela for the signing, which was also covered by the media in Venezuela.

It added that on his return to Trinidad and Tobago, Energy Minister Eric Williams granted one on one interviews to members of the local media outlining the details of the signing and that copies of the MOU were made available to the press. “The Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries wishes to re-issue copies of the MOU at this time,” it released. The “re-issuing” of the MOU came in the wake of accusations from Barbados Attorney General Mia Mottley that Trinidad and Tobago was not negotiating in good faith. Mottley stated that Barbados Prime Minister Owen Arthur had cancelled his trip to Trinidad and Tobago because they had just discovered that the Trinidad and Tobago Government had signed a memorandum of agreement with Venezuela on how the two could exploit mineral resources “in Barbados’ Exclusive Economic Zone.” “It is unfortunate that we have had five rounds of maritime discussions and four rounds of fisheries discussions and at no stage during these discussions...did they bring to the attention of the government of Barbados in good faith...We consider this lacking in good faith. It was also regrettable that the matter was not raised either in the face-to-face meeting between the leaders of the two countries at Villa Nova on Monday,” Mottley told a new conference last week.
Saying that acquiring a copy of the MOU before Arthur met Manning was critical, Mottley said: “This is a matter that has deeply, deeply disturbed the Government of Barbados.”

The MOU, which is to remain in force for ten years from the date of signing, establishes the procedure for the unitisation of hydrocarbon reservoirs which extend across the delimitation line between Trinidad and Tobago and Venezuela. It also addresses the inter-governmental arrangement to facilitate the movement of goods and services, workers, ships and airplanes/helicopters including medical services for emergency evacuation from one country to another in connection with offshore exploitation of hydrocarbon resources and the health, safety, security and environmental procedures that shall be applied on each side of the delimitation line. The MOU also established a steering committee consisting of representatives from both Trinidad and Tobago and Venezuela. Under the agreement the members of this committee shall keep confidential and not disclose or attempt to disclose to any third party, any information provided directly or indirectly by the other party as a result of negotiating, entering into or implementing the terms of this MOU, provided that it is required by a judgment or order of the court. The obligations contained in this Article shall survive the termination of the MOU regardless of the cause or reason for such termination, for a period of ten years thereafter. The MOU can only be amended by written agreement between the parties.