The Permanent Secretary in the Office of the President today informed Dr. Bynoe that his contract will be terminated with effect from the 11th December 2020. He has been asked to proceed on leave from today.

Days after the Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo hinted at the removal of Dr. Mark Bynoe as Head of the Department of Energy, because according to him, his qualifications are not suited for the  energy sector, the Office of the President has terminated Dr. Bynoe’s contract.

“I am not sure whether he will be there as the head, given that his experience e has never been in that sector [energy]. I cannot say whether he will be retained in the area because his entire working experience is in environment,” Jagdeo said.

Dr. Bynoe was hired as the first head of the Department of Energy, which was formed in 2018 as Guyana prepared for oil production. His contract which was signed in August 2018 was scheduled to expire in July 2021.

The Permanent Secretary informed the Energy Department Head that his contract was being terminated under its Clause 7, which allows for notice to be given in advance of the termination of the contract.

Dr. Bynoe is an Environment and Resource Economist who once served as the head of the Project Development and Management Unit of the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC). He was also a part-time lecturer at the University of Guyana.

His qualifications include a Ph.D. in Economics, a Masters in Resource Management and a Post Graduate degree in Development studies. He is also the holder of a Bachelor’s degree in Geography and Economics.

Since the PPP took office in August  it has terminated the contracts of a number senior government officials including civil servants and contract professionals. Most of these have been Afro-Guyanese, which has drawn the ire of many persons from civil society, as well as the Opposition APNU/AFC.

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