Change must come

Jan 14, 2025 Editorial, News

Editorial…

Kaieteur News- As the elections season sets in, more and more Guyanese are coming out against the lopsided oil contract the Guyana Government signed with ExxonMobil back in 2016. They are also demanding a renegotiation of the deal.

It is no secret Guyanese want more for their oil. Guyanese need more from their wealth. Guyanese know that they should get more, are due more, and they know this with the most absolute of convictions. Renegotiation of the 2016 ExxonMobil contract will not dishonour its sacredness. Instead, it will enhance ExxonMobil’s and America’s reputation for doing what is fair and just and could not be more right. The goodwill of the Guyanese people would be immeasurable, something of priceless value to ExxonMobil, American companies, and America itself. The ExxonMobil contract must be renegotiated, in some shape or form, for more for Guyanese. The lives and interests of Guyanese are also sacred.

But not so to Vice President, Bharat Jagdeo, President Irfaan Ali and even the Leader of the Opposition, Aubrey Norton who dodge serious questions through distractions to disengage anxious Guyanese from the issue of paramount importance, which is renegotiation of the 2016 contract between Guyana and ExxonMobil.

The Vice President’s focus is almost always the opposition and the other routine matters that his ministers are in charge of. But when it comes to the oil sector, Jagdeo only speaks about the new Production Sharing Agreement (PSA), which is yet to be tested and proven. Not that this is not an important matter, but it has its place, and should be much lower down on him and President Ali’s list of top priorities and talking points. For emphasis, that might be a positive development, but it fades into insignificance before the biggest whale of an issue that is before us. All other matters are aced by renegotiation of our oil contact with ExxonMobil and its other profiteering partners.

Out of sheer necessity, it is compulsory that oil and gas is the first, second, and third items on the list of any Government of Guyana Leader participating in a media conference, be it with local professionals or those that are foreign-based. Whenever oil is pushed into the conversation, it must take center stage, which means that renegotiation of the oil contract is a must.

Renegotiation has to be a ‘must-be’ aspect of such interviews. Renegotiation and how we are being robbed must be brought to the attention of the whole world. And renegotiation and how Guyana must get more, must do better, and must be a real partner (and not some straggler and hanger-on), pounded and hammered into the consciousness of all who listen. This is so the world is made aware of the unconscionable deal, the full-out highway banditry, executed by the corporate villains and scoundrels at ExxonMobil and Hess.

When we study how President Ali, Jagdeo and even Norton are attempting to let ExxonMobil off the hook, and also pull the wool over the eyes of locals, we detect their usual trickiness and slipperiness when it comes to confronting ExxonMobil and dealing with the American supergiant. The President and Vice President are twisting themselves into knots so as not to face ExxonMobil and demand more through renegotiation.

The 2016 oil deal is bad, and the world knows. ExxonMobil was ruthless, and for this reason alone, the PPP/C Government and its Leaders should not be doing the company any favours, or giving it any space, where renegotiation is concerned. Our people are hungry, and we must get more now. Our people cannot make ends meet in the richest country in the world (by computer calculator), and the PPP/C Government shrinks from tabling renegotiation as their highest priority. The leadership dodges and distractions will only work and last so long. Change must come, and it starts with immediate renegotiation.

(Change must come)

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Aubrey Norton, Editorial, ExxonMobil’s, Government of Guyana, leaders, Vice President

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