The Global Witness report invokes betrayal and hurt

Dear Editor,
It is with deep sadness and hurt that I pen this letter highlighting the gross corruption, mismanagement, weak leadership and small-mindedness of this disgraceful APNU Government. They sold our future for limo rides, fancy hotels and restaurants. The Global Witness Report highlighted how we lost US$55 billion due to weak negotiations led by APNU.
It is only a PNC Government that has the audacity and nerve to sell out its people on such a grand scale. They never cared for the average Guyanese when they gave away our gold to Omai for 5 per cent, gave ATT a monopoly of 80 per cent that overcharged us and now the oil agreement that gave away US$55 billion. When Brazil got over US$700 million signing bonus for less oil and Suriname got US$100 million for even less oil, we got a pocket change of US$18 million for discovering the worlds largest reserve in 2019. And to add insult to injury, APNU denied receiving the bonus until Exxon said they gave them it.
Every Guyanese should be angry and alarmed by this never before seen scale of corruption in Guyana’s history. To put it into perspective, US$55 billion can pay all public servant wages for 540 years with bonus or finance Guyana’s national budget for 40 years at the current rate without lifting a finger. This is all thanks to APNU and their disgraceful leadership. They have placed a burden on Guyana so heavy that it will take generations to lift it off and if they are to return to power on March 2, that burden will just get heavier.
Its either APNU understood what they were doing and made decisions for their self-interest and not the interest of the people or they simply got outsmarted. We were in a position of parity before negotiating the agreement and they threw it out the window either deliberately or because they were too weak to represent us. Either way, they have failed us in the worst way imaginable.
Over the past five years, APNU raised the cost of living by, among other things, increasing VAT on essential items that raised the prices for food, racked up billions in loans, put the Bank of Guyana into overdraft, strained the auto industry by enforcing a ridiculous eight years maximum on imports and banning used tires. They collected over $200 billion in taxes a year while giving away $12 trillion in the oil deal. How more diabolical can you be as a Government towards your people?
Now, they stand in front of us saying they will share out cash from oil, what cash? where is it? It’s all empty promises, the only people getting cash in Guyana are the APNU big boys and girls and their allies, not me and you.
The APNU Presidential Candidate must tell the people what he was doing while all this nonsense was going on. What kind of leader pretends to be a righteous saint and can’t protect Guyana’s basic interest?
On March 2, we must not forget that we are voting to protect our Constitution by removing an illegal Government that violated our laws and to not lose another US$55 billion.

Sincerely,
Malcolm Watkins