Let’s not encourage the “Dutch Disease” to take up residence

Dear Editor,
The national and international community played a pivotal part in securing the restoration of democracy to this beautiful land that, heaping praises perpetually would not exhaust a Guyanese indebted list. But it was the Americans who drove the final nail in the APNU/AFC Party’s coffin that sent them to the land of no return, bringing on the sanctions that applied the pressure for Mr. Granger and his vengeful mob to desist resistance. Indeed, the cabals were out to destroy a Guyanese way of life with their deceitful ways and arrogant activists. Guyanese thanks and appreciation will forever be echoed many years to come for all the key players and stakeholders who risked their lives to confront the dangerous APNU/AFC Party to defend the popular will of the people.
The West on trial continues to manifest a different pot of tea because, this time, Exxon has its knee on the back of Guyanese and its arms around the neck, controlling the inflow of air as there is an exacerbation to gasp for survival. Agreed, the deceitful APNU/AFC party created and contracted this diabolical situation. But, in the interest of truth and honesty, Exxon should not have gone along and encouraged this unforgiveable agreement and should have perpetrated good governance and fairness to justify their decisions in the interest of the poor, suffering, illiterate Guyanese who are treading on unchartered water and looking for a big brother to extend a helping hand in the name of humanity. No man is in business to make a loss but to gain a profit, but, the honor of decency and integrity amplifies the principle of morality and is existential to the brotherhood and sisterhood of comradery that embraces mutual friendship, cooperation and understanding. How proud can Exxon be for boasting that they took advantage of Guyanese stupidity because we lacked the knowledge of the technical know-how in the oil industry and its management and operation! The United Nation and all the world organizations that represent the protection of human suffrage must be astonished at the appalling behavior of Exxon and sympathizing with the oppressed and depressed people of Guyana who are clawing their way out from a deep hole, after being sabotaged and thrown in a dungeon by Granger and his collaborators. The entire universe is now witnessing for themselves the corruptions from these villains as they are being slowly discovered and unfolded by the PPP/C government. Exxon must be ashamed of its decisions to rob the impoverished and helpless Guyanese in their defenseless situation, wanting to deny the basic bread and butter from the famished children and the handicapped parents, knowing fully well that the ruthless people they went into partnership with, was engaging in a contract to deceive the man in the street and add to the miseries of this nation. Forget appealing to the spiritual awareness that rouses the guidance of religious behavior, is there a conscience that exists on the Exxon’s management team that knocks with guilty?
It is not too late for Exxon to rectify this lopsided and horrible agreement and initiate adjustments that can modify all those outrageous clauses that seek to bleed the last drop of blood from this nation and carve the last ounce of flesh from its body to expose the naked skeleton and its fragility. Guyanese hands are indeed in a lion’s mouth but the PPP/C government has an available hand that can still stroke the head of the lion with its diplomacy and bargaining power to free us from this death trap. Renegotiation remains a favorable and valuable tool on the bargaining table and must be used to negotiate compensative deals. Come on Exxon, 2 percent, really? What you’re doing is gouging the eyes of an already blind and oil illiterate nation and that is being heartless and merciless. The Vice-President, Dr Bharaat Jagdeo is right, if Guyana cannot profit meaningfully from the oil industry, we may as well call it a day. It is better to cut an early loss rather than to sink later in a deeper mess and a hole with no way out. Going forward for further exploration and development, Guyana needs to revisit the oil industry afresh, with transparency, diversified technocrats who are specialists and professionals, keeping politics out and guided by the principles and practices of good governance, technology, ethics and prudent financial management. This government should not feel pressured to make early and rash decisions nor should the government be influenced by cosmetic appeals disguised in propaganda and false promises. Oil don’t spoil and we can still eat and drink local. Guyana’s agriculture remains the food basket for the Caribbean and sugar is still king with rum flowing like black wata! Rice is always nice and plenty, just don’t remix it. Our forestry is still full of timber, gold and diamond, just declare dem you seekers! Bauxite is precious and available. Let our waterfalls develop the hydro projects to save on fuel consumption. Last time Guyanese checked with the Atlantic Ocean, wind remains free, so, landscape our shores with windmills. Harness it for horse power. For solar energy, the sun keeps pouring its brilliant sunshine on us and begging us to take advantage of it, unlike Exxon. Mother nature still graces our land and tourism is attractively scenic, waiting on COVID-19 to make its grand exit. The pandemic is hard to handle, let’s not encourage the “Dutch Disease” to take up residence.

Respectfully,
Jai Lall