Opposition Member of Parliament (MP) Stuart Young has publicly criticized Energy Minister Dr. Roodal Moonilal for his apparent lack of understanding regarding the Dragon gas project negotiations with Venezuela. Young revealed that Moonilal confirmed his unfamiliarity with the details of a six-month provisional licence issued by the US Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) during a statement on October 10. This licence is crucial for initiating discussions with Venezuela on the project. Young further emphasized that Moonilal’s ignorance was evident in his comments about ministry documentation being in Spanish, as well as his unawareness of the previous OFAC licences issued last December under the People’s National Movement (PNM) administration. Young clarified that OFAC licences are issued in English and that the National Gas Company (NGC) and its legal team had access to translated documents. He accused Moonilal of incompetence, stating that the minister’s lack of knowledge highlights the government’s inability to manage complex energy negotiations. Young also defended former Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley, who Moonilal had criticized earlier, by clarifying that Rowley’s statements were not based on official Energy Ministry documents. Additionally, Young pointed out that the recent transfer of former ministry permanent secretary Pennelope Bradshaw-Niles has left Moonilal without access to critical institutional knowledge. Young concluded that Moonilal’s exclusion from key energy negotiations is a direct result of his incompetence.