At the Hart of Transparency
PORT-OF-SPAIN, October 25, 2017 — Renowned author Chinua Achebe once said, “One of the truest tests of integrity is its blunt refusal to be compromised.”
Victor Hart’s integrity has never wavered and he has always stood for public service above self and an enduring commitment to transparency. These traits make his retirement an even more difficult burden. His departure as Chairman of the Trinidad and Tobago Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative Steering Committee (SC) will definitely leave a void.
For the past nine years, Victor has provided exemplary leadership and guidance during the country’s EITI implementation journey. The initiative itself promotes collective governance where Government, civil society and extractive company representatives must agree and reach consensus on issues as far ranging as company disclosure of specific taxes, beneficial ownership reporting and contract transparency.
Our local steering committee is a callaloo of competing interests. Representatives of the Ministries of Energy and Finance, the National Gas Company of Trinidad and Tobago and Petrotrin literally sit next to company representatives from BP, BHP Billiton and Shell and they are joined by civil society representatives from the OWTU, Fishermen and Friends of the Sea and other organisations.
Getting these competing interests to agree is not easy. In some cases, these actors have confrontational relationships outside the sphere of EITI implementation.
But, because of Victor, hostility never crept into the SC’s work. It is a testament to his leadership that after 103 meetings, the SC never had to vote on an issue and came to all decisions by consensus.
In meetings, Victor was poise personified. Calm, firm yet fair, able to respect diverse opinions as well as draw opposing fringe views closer to a centre.
As a young professional, observing him operate up close was a master class in how to create consensus naturally. He was a bridge builder, natural teacher and a storyteller, approaching his work with authenticity and little to no ego whatsoever. This earned him currency with all members of the SC and other members of the TTEITI Secretariat.
If I had to describe his superpower it would be his unflappable composure in the face of obstacles. At many times when the door was slammed on one of our attempts to promote reform within the country’s extractive sectors he didn’t’ become disheartened.
Going forward, if faced with similar challenges I will simply ask myself what would Victor do. His optimism was a guiding light and worthy of imitation from me and others.
His attributes were recognised internationally and allowed Victor to articulate his regional vision for EITI. In 2016, he was unanimously elected to represent Latin America and the Caribbean region on the EITI International Board.
Victor tackled this responsibility with vigour, paying attention to the most intricate of details while concentrating on regional integration. He took it upon himself to ensure that other CARICOM countries understood both the benefits and challenges of EITI implementation.
The TTEITI served as an EITI sounding board for the Caribbean, hosting workshops in Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica, Suriname and Grenada. Victor always saw this energy diplomacy as beneficial to countries on the cusp of developing their natural resources.
He brought this Peer Partnership Initiative to the EITI Board and piloted the move for new or prospective EITI member countries to be paired with an experienced member in order to reduce costs and provide lessons.
Trinidad and Tobago was paired with Guyana and Suriname. When Suriname and Guyana formally joined the EITI, Victor’s idea blossomed and other countries, such as Colombia and the Dominican Republic, started to adopt the initiative.
Closer to home, he always tried to innovate and push the envelope, supporting civil society demands for environmental reporting within the EITI as well as approaching midstream and downstream companies to report on their tax payments. He had a relentless drive for change and the EITI will be poorer by his absence.
Reflecting on his legacy, these words cannot possibly capture his full essence and ethos. He has been a leading advocate in the fight against corruption in Trinidad and Tobago, from promoting public procurement legislation to leading the TTEITI Steering Committee since its inception.
Victor has always been an agent for positive change. This is his third attempt at retirement and a selfish part of me wishes he continues as Chairman. But, in all honesty, he has more than earned his rest.
As he retires and completes the final leg of his EITI journey, I reflect on Achebe’s words and I am crystal-clear about the ideals Victor stood for: integrity, public service above self and an enduring commitment to transparency.
It is worth repeating. His retirement is a loss to the country, region and world but those of us continuing to advocate for transparency and good governance have to stand for the same principles that Victor heralded and stood for.
For further information on this statement or to arrange an interview, please email the TTEITI’s communications team at info@tteiti.com or call (868) 225 4334 ext. 2513.
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