It’s…oil right

There are fears again being raised by the usual bunch of naysayers that our oil-fuelled spending in the Budget from our NRF is unsustainable!! Now, this should be of concern for all of us red-blooded Guyanese – seeing as how our cash grants flow from it!! It also funds all the other development initiatives of the Government – such as all those beautiful, landscaped hang-out spots being created across the country. These are adding such a new twist to our Guyanese sporting culture that we might just give those obnoxious Bajans a run for their tourism dollars!! Have you been recently to the seawall near the old bandstand?? Ahhh… it almost makes you forget that we have no white beaches and blue water!!
That NRF fund, of course, is filled up from our royalties from gold and oil – and profits from the latter!! As such, we should sit up and take notice that over in Houston – in the States, not the EBD!! – the Big Honcho of ExxonMobil just told investors that the company’s mulling extending its exploration into the waters closer to Venezuela!! Now, while developing new fields in the Stabroek Block means we ain’t gonna be getting a higher amount of profits – since the no ring-fencing clause continues to allow Exxon to deduct 75 per cent of its “costs” from profits, leaving us to split the remaining 25 per cent down the middle – at least we’ll be getting the latter for a much longer time!! Plus of course, the two per cent royalties! Your Eyewitness is of the “bird in the hand” school of thought!!
Now here’s concrete proof that Trump’s intervention in Venezuela is benefiting us!! And not just with the continued revenue stream!! The ExxonMobil Big Enchilada specifically mentioned that a favourable decision by the ICJ later this year on Venezuela’s border controversy will further encourage his investment! And we know when ExxonMobil speaks, the US Government – and, not so incidentally, the ICJ – listens!! What’s good for Big Oil is good for America – and in this case good for Guyana!! Hallelujah!! But ExxonMobil got another reason to keep drilling in Guyana. It’s being encouraged by the US to return to Venezuela to take advantage of the new oil regime they’ve had Delcy introduce over there!! But knowing that things ain’t gonna be regular for quite a while there, ExxonMobil wants to hedge its bet – but not upset that big, blond fella in the White House!!
Now, in focusing on our oil fields, he can show he’s giving substance to Secretary Rubio’s threat to Delcy to open up further – or else Guyana’s gonna be the oil destination to be encouraged!!
So we’re having it good coming and going: keeping the dough rolling – and keeping Delcy off balance!! How sweet it is!!

…criminal!!
Like all Guyanese after the PPP/C Government’s “a car in every driveway” policy, your Eyewitness tools are around on the new highways and bridges with gusto!! But that truck rolling down the BJ Demerara River Bridge and smashing all those cars – killing one driver and injuring others – has scared the bejesus out of him!! He can’t get that smash-up scene out of his mind – thanks to social media!! He’s been assiduously getting out from behind trucks – even on flat roads!! Which ain’t an easy job with trucks seemingly more common than cars nowadays!!
But back to the “accident”: this was waiting to happen!! The moment your Eyewitness heard of it, he knew something wasn’t kosher. OK… Even if the gearbox (transmission) failed, a trained truck driver would know to turn the rear of his truck sideways into the guardrail. This would slow down or stop his vehicle!!
He immediately concluded this was an untrained driver. And it was justified when it was revealed the fella wasn’t even LICENSED!!
This was gross negligence!! Bun driver and owner!!

…a cultural event!!
The crème of Washington’s cultural scene – the JFK Center now the Trump-Kennedy Center – just premiered Amazon’s documentary production of “Melania”. No, it’s not about the US First Lady’s move from nude modelling – just 20 days from the inauguration!!