Guyana’s oil, drilled with the thrills of complexities and perplexities

Dec 04, 2020 Letters

DEAR EDITOR,

Guyana, this beautiful land of nature’s gifts and treasures, is certainly going places. It is travelling faster than it can catch its breath at break-neck speed. A country that was once placed at the penultimate position at the bottom of the economic ladder in this hemisphere, has risen over night to be catapulted as the number one gold mine with its oil and gas findings. Waving good-bye in the rear view mirror to the callous and convoluted APNU+AFC Party and their devious corruptions, the new PPP/C government under the youthful leadership of a different president, promises to move forward this nation to a progressive stage to meet the needs of a younger generation, influenced by the IT age. President Irfaan Ali took over the reign as the driving force to traverse a pathway filled with hurdles and obstacles deliberately spiked by a previous reckless and unscrupulous government. The Granger led management team, ensured that all avenues were exhausted and drained of all resources and all revenues were utilized to provide and protect their well-being, guaranteeing their secured financial future.
Now facing a bankrupt economy riddled with misappropriations in every conceivable corner within the ministries and state agencies, this government is further saddled with the elimination of pain, poverty and suffering of the man in the street, due to the economic hardship created by the APNU+AFC Party. Granger and his band of merry men and women ensured that only they enjoyed the good life during their tenure and the small man never had a chance to become the real man. Tagged with the complexities and perplexities of the deadly COVID-19 repercussions, this uphill battle doesn’t get easier, nor does the political insinuations perpetrated by a ruthless APNU+AFC party is any area for comfort. Their encouragement of violent upheavals is the root cause of much damages and destructions and this is pushing the government on slippery ground. The fragility of the safety and security of the nation is being underwritten by the uncontrolled criminal elements throughout the country and this administration is being side tracked with this erratic discombobulation.
Much economic mileage has been scored with the rehiring of workers in GuySuCo and the revamping of the sugar industry, advancing the reopening of the sugar estates wickedly closed by the Granger administration in order to further underscore their retribution. The mining, bauxite and forest industries are coming alive again. The PPP/C was successful in piloting a short term budget which reversed many of the oppressive taxes instituted by the APNU+AFC Party that brought economic hardship to the working class people. While President Irfaan Ali is stepping up to the plate and delivering his party’s campaign manifesto, many of the promises made are yet to be unfolded and an eager nation is patiently waiting for this gravy train to arrive. Even though the government is only four months old, there has been much acclaimed success and Guyanese will have to be patient. But, there is certainly no comparison with their predecessors. After the last five years under APNU+AFC’s dictatorship, this Granger party succeeded in taking Guyana back to the stage 28 years ago when the PPP/C took over the mantle from the 28 years of PNC’s devastating rule, starting from 1964 and ending in 1992. Facts and figures don’t lie and the quiet David Granger who has made more public appearances in the past five months than he has given open press conferences in the past five years, is once again encouraged to respond to Dr. Tara Singh’s request.
Yet, a troubled nation sleeps with a heavy heart each night, wondering and pondering on the disturbing oil and gas issues. Too much information is being related to a dumb struck nation leaving Guyanese in gross uncertainty and entertaining a degree of deep curiosity. People’s faith is being shaken and they now want to query how reliable sourced data from the two administrations are. People are beginning to question the free give away of our sovereignty and the selling out of our rights. Clearly, Guyana’s interest was overlooked and Guyanese’s worth was devalued more than its dollar. Transparency and trust have hitched a hike and are being replaced by convolutions and distortions. It is very difficult to accept explanations without clarity. The secret signing of contracts without full parliamentary approval is not only a gray area but a replica of a previously dark era when Guyanese were taken for a ride by the Burnham’s administration. APNU+AFC’s poor mathematical calibration is forever engrained in the history of Guyana with the confounded nonsense of dividing bodies by two then rejoining them. To rely on Burnham’s magic is a thing of the past. This may be a nation of intelligent fools but certainly not a country of illiterate fools! A nation stands waiting in line, keeping vigilance, waiting for Trotman to declare under whose instruction he signed a two percent royalty agreement.
The Guyana Bar Association must be shivering in disgust to learn that their men in robe crafted a dilapidated and lopsided contract, agreeing to allow ExxonMobil to have the upper hand to dictate rules and regulations, phrases and clauses that are carefully worded to tie Guyana to a network, imprisoned for live without any room for escape. Such is the unabashed brilliance of Guyana’s finesse who sealed Guyana’s prosperity to a point of no return. The APNU+AFC Party cleverly talked the walk craftily, leaving no room for PPP/C’s manipulation to walk the talk with any maneuverability. Lawyers do get addressed in Creolese as “liars.” A refined twist of the tongue? It is interesting to note, Suriname, our neighbouring country recently visited by our President, celebrated their 45th independence anniversary, having gained their freedom from Holland in 1975. Suriname secured 3.1 billion guilders from the colonial masters, The Netherlands, when they attained sovereignty of their country. Guyana had the smart attorney, the brilliant orator, LFS Burnham, who negotiated with Great Britain to secure Guyana’s independence. Did Guyana get anything like Suriname did? Suriname negotiated for a 6.4 percent royalty in their oil deal. What did Guyana settled for? Crumbs, pittances, handouts, leftovers, ort and threats from the generous Exxon and Guyana’s astute attorneys are satisfied that, we received the best deal in town! What a laugh…! What a waste of education…! The said exclamation was made at the demise of Walter Rodney! Burnham, Jagan and Rodney must be turning in their graves and pitying Guyana. Dead men cannot cry and they tell no tale, 007 is seeking redress from the dead. While Guyana is going somewhere, are Guyanese going anywhere except permanently overseas?

Respectfully,
Jai Lall