Minister of Natural Resources Vickram Bharrat has been appointed to the international Board of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), where he will represent Guyana and the wider Latin American and Caribbean region for the 2026–2029 term.

In a statement issued yesterday, the Ministry of Natural Resources said Bharrat was appointed on October 6 as a Principal Member of the EITI Implementing Country Constituency. His selection had first been announced on June 30.

Bharrat is currently in Brussels, Belgium, where he participated in the 68th EITI Board meeting at the Centre Albert Borschette, ahead of the EITI Global Conference scheduled for October 8–9.

According to the ministry, he will participate in a panel entitled “Golden opportunities: Securing shared benefits from artisanal and small-scale gold mining”. The discussion will examine how the sector can provide more equitable benefits while supporting livelihoods and responsible mining.

The ministry said the conference would provide an opportunity for Bharrat to share the region’s experiences in natural resource governance and contribute to discussions on transparency and accountability.

“Our countries have different experiences, but we share a common responsibility to manage our natural resources transparently and ensure that their benefits reach our people and communities,” Bharrat said.

“As members, we must continue to focus on practical ways to support livelihoods and strengthen accountability across the extractive sector.”

The conference brings together representatives of governments, industry, civil society and international organisations to discuss governance of the extractive industries.

Guyana joined the EITI in October 2017. The initiative promotes transparency in the management of oil, gas and mineral resources, including disclosure of revenues and oversight involving government, companies and civil society. 

Guyana’s implementation of the initiative has, however, faced reporting delays and disputes over civil society representation. Stabroek News reported in February 2023 that the country had been suspended for failing to publish its report covering 2020. The suspension was lifted on June 30, 2023, following publication of the outstanding report. 

More recently, Stabroek News reported in November 2025 that Policy Forum Guyana had questioned the impartiality of Bharrat’s appointment of Dr Ivor English as convenor of the civil society component of the local EITI process, citing English’s mining connections and concerns about the selection of representatives.

Bharrat rejected the suggestion of a conflict of interest, saying English was no longer mining and would not serve on the Multi-Stakeholder Group. The ministry also maintained that civil society organisations would set their own selection rules and choose their representatives independently. 

In June, Kiskadee Watch reported controversy over the failure to notify opposition parliamentarians of a meeting with visiting EITI representatives. Clerk of the National Assembly Sherlock Isaacs apologised and attributed the omission to a staff member. WIN Chief Whip Tabitha Sarabo-Halley said only two opposition MPs were able to attend, but the visiting team agreed to a further engagement to accommodate more parliamentarians.