AFC’s Dr. Vincent Adams Slams Government’s “Sudden Epiphany” on Oil Spill Liability Coverage
GEORGETOWN, GUYANA—The government’s newly tabled Oil Pollution Prevention, Preparedness, Response, and Responsibility Bill of 2025 is under fire from the opposition. The Alliance For Change (AFC)’s oil and gas spokesperson, Dr. Vincent Adams, questions its sincerity and accuses the administration of political opportunism.
Speaking at a press conference on Friday, Dr. Adams labeled the government’s push for full liability coverage on oil spills as a “sham” and a “folly of change of heart,” given that the AFC had long advocated for such protections during its time in office.
“Let us not forget that MP David Patterson had tabled a bill for unlimited liability. It didn’t go anywhere then, but now suddenly the government is acting as if this is a novel idea,” Adams stated.
The 2025 bill, introduced during the 102nd session of the National Assembly, sets a new legal framework requiring unlimited financial liability from operators like ExxonMobil in the event of an oil spill. It also outlines prevention protocols, improved national preparedness, and response mechanisms to mitigate environmental disasters in Guyana’s offshore oil sector.
However, according to Dr. Adams, the move mirrors conditions mandated initially by the APNU+AFC government, which had secured Exxon’s agreement to full liability coverage before the PPP/C administration took office in 2020. He accused the current government of abandoning those safeguards and subsequently engaging in private negotiations to cap Exxon’s liability, which was ruled unlawful by the High Court.
Dr. Adams cited the legal victory of Frederick Collins and Godfrey Whyte, two citizens who successfully sued the government and ExxonMobil over failure to uphold full liability provisions. Justice Sandil Kissoon’s ruling condemned the draft agreement between Exxon and the state, describing it as “erroneous and self-serving.”
Despite the court’s rebuke, the government joined ExxonMobil in appealing the ruling to the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), a move Dr. Adams says undermines public trust in the government’s environmental stewardship.
“If you’re serious about protecting Guyana, you don’t appeal a ruling that demands full liability from oil companies,” Adams asserted.
He also directly targeted Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo, accusing him of hypocrisy for supporting a bill. At the same time, Exxon allegedly continues to produce oil above safe operating limits—a practice Adams warns significantly increases the risk of a catastrophic spill.
“For a bill with such a bold title, you can start with enforcing the law,” Adams said. “Exxon is unlawfully producing above its safety threshold, with the state’s knowledge.”
Public scrutiny is expected to intensify as the bill moves through Parliament, especially given Guyana’s growing dependence on oil revenues and environmental vulnerabilities.
