Latest update April 25th, 2024 12:59 AM
Mar 30, 2017 News
Oil giant, ExxonMobil will be making a meaningful contribution to the social fabric of Guyana, according to Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman.
During a recent interview with Kaieteur News, the Minister said that Exxon is very willing to contribute to the development of Guyana by exercising its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).
Corporate social responsibility refers to business practices involving initiatives that benefit a society. A business’s CSR can encompass a wide variety of tactics, from giving away a portion of a company’s proceeds to charity, to implementing “greener” business operations. Some companies look to cushion the environmental consequences of their business activities.
So far, the multi-billion-dollar oil company, ExxonMobil has erected a fountain in the Botanical Gardens. Trotman indicated that that was part of the gift worked out for Guyana’s 50th anniversary but noted that a more meaningful delivery in the making.
He said, “We do have a CSR programme we are working on and looking to finalize.” The Minister also indicated that the consultation process between Government and Exxon on this matter will come to an end this week.
Trotman said that his Ministry has four primary areas to which it wants ExxonMobil to commit. These, as outlined by the Minister, are land reformation, establishing green spaces, youth membership schemes, and a youth innovation fund.
Land reformation usually speaks to the transfer of agricultural land to land that can be used for residential purposes. The Guyana Sugar Corporation has many lands that can be transformed.
Trotman said that the green spaces are to be established in communities. He explained that they are looking to have parks and gardens created. Then there is the youth membership scheme which the Minister said will involve taking youths to the interior and site of extractive industries for them to witness good environmental practices etc. the Youth innovation fund is to be set up to aid young people with good ideas on conservation and generally projects that will help to promote a green economy.
Trotman also noted that Exxon has its own work that it is doing with women and some communities “so we are looking to see how we can fuse the two to have a coordinated effort. Guyana can expect much more.”
Guyana has had many companies exploiting its natural resources but few have made meaningful social contributions. Chinese logging company BaiShanLin Development Inc. is one that has engaged in no known sustained form of CSR. Residents of Region 10 even complained of how the company destroyed their roads and refused to repair them.
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