MP Lee – Where is the Heritage Petroleum Company CEO?
“Where is Mike Wiley?” is the question that must be answered by the Minister of Energy and the board of Trinidad Petroleum Holdings Limited (TPHL).
The Minister of Energy needs to inform the population as to the whereabouts, health and fitness for office of Heritage Petroleum’s Chief Executive Officer Mike Wiley given that reliable sources have suggested that he has been away from the company for over two months on sick leave. Even more concerning, is the fact that these reports further suggest that he may not be returning to his high level position anytime soon.
The need for public accountability becomes quite relevant and warranted based on the significant as well as consequential role that government has designated for Heritage Exploration to play in the recovery of our energy sector.
As a matter of fact in February 2019, while speaking at the Energy Conference of the TT Energy Chamber, the Minister of Energy said “the future of the oil industry in T&T hinges largely on the future of the Heritage Petroleum Company.”
Therefore it is unthinkable and detrimental to our nation’s energy sector that the person who has been tasked with such a critical role in the “game changing company”, the person charged with leading this company, would be out for so long.
The Minister of Energy must further inform the population if Mr. Wiley has been receiving his massive monthly salary $240,000 TTD and how long would this be allowed to continue if his absence persists.
Citizens and stakeholders in the local energy sector would be further perturbed as reports have also suggested, that while the Heritage CEO is on sick leave, the company is being led by Nigel Campbell with the assistance of Lisa Ali.
If true, this would be quite worrisome as Mr. Campbell’s background is in accounting while Mrs. Ali’s is in human resource, with neither possessing the skill in exploration management. At a time when oil prices are falling, the only way to compensate and protect the energy sector is by increasing both exploration and production. However with persons at the helm without the requisite skill and experience needed to oversee such operation, our energy sector has been thrown into a vulnerable position.