Dear Editor,
Let me first begin with a very popular saying which has been used in a plethora of allegories but, in my opinion, non-more apropos than in politics: “You can please some of the people all of the time, you can please all of the people some of the time, but you can’t please all of the people all of the time”.
This quote is attributed to the poet John Lydgate, and was later adapted by President Lincoln.
I would now like to make reference to the contents of a letter published in the Stabroek News of October 2, and captioned, “Payara signing is proof of President’s fascination with saying the right thing but representing nothing.”
In his missive, the author described our newly inaugurated President as being “relatively young in years, but as old as time in ways not constructive – has manifested before a facility with words that are fulsome but frail in output.”
Since the installation of the new Government, there have been swift and sweeping moves to get the country back on its feet again, after more than a year of political quagmire. Following the five-month, hostage-like situation, the PPP/C Government’s interventions swept across the country like an invigorating breeze. Among the many interventions undertaken was a review of the Payara Field Offshore Development. The PPP/C Government announced a review of the work already undertaken by the Department of Energy, so that the interest of all Guyanese is protected, and everything is in keeping with international transparency and accountability standards prior to approval being given. To the best of my knowledge, this has been completed, and just one day ago, the Government of Guyana and ExxonMobil signed the licence for the Payara field offshore development in Guyana.
It is no secret that approval was a result of several reviews and consultations by local and international experts, who assessed the project to ensure that all relevant regulations are complied with, and that they can be enforced. This included environmental standards and reservoir management, to safeguard the interests of the people of Guyana.
And what are the results of the review? The Government has insisted that routine flaring is strictly prohibited without the approval of the EPA. Flaring to maintain oil production will not be permitted. Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL) will pay the Government for the cost of gas wasted during flaring, and will also be subject to fines under the EPA related to emissions from flaring. EPA will establish a framework for a price on carbon to conform to international standards.
Additionally, the Government has insisted that EEPGL manage produced water to an international standard to minimise the effects of discharging produced water.
I ask, is this not substantive output? Perhaps in the author’s mind it is not the desired outcome he envisaged. Perhaps he would have been penning another missive had nothing been done or achieved. Here, again, we see the old adage ringing true. If the Government had made no move to review the Payara licence, there would have been outrage. The Government reviewed the licence, thereby ensuring that the interest of all Guyanese is protected and in keeping with international transparency and accountability standards, and there still is outrage. You just can’t please everyone.
Yours truly,
Andrea Ince
