…the oil horizon?
From the time it took over in late 2020, the PPP made our country’s policy on oil production crystal clear: we’re gonna pump the black gold as fast (and furious!!) as possible!! Drill, baby, drill!! And why not?? As every conclave of political leaders – and think tanks – have reminded us, the world’s gonna keep on using fossil fuel for decades into the future. That’s the fact, Jack – don’t let no one tell you differently!! Does anyone remember the grand promises made at the UNFCCC Conference of Parties?? Well, in case you forgot – not a SINGLE one of them was fulfilled by the biggest transgressors. And that’s the way the (oil) cookie’s gonna continue to crumble, budday!!
So, somebody gotta be supplying that market, no?!! And what should we do with our 18 billion barrels of oil – and counting?? Leave it under the Atlantic and have others reap windfall profits – while we suck salt and remain a poverty-stricken shithole country with half our population living below US$2 daily? You can’t even buy a veggie fried rice – much less a sweet drink to wash it down!! Ah… what the heck!! Your Eyewitness just doesn’t understand the kind of thinking that demands we sacrifice our first chance to live in dignity after four hundred years of slavery and indentureship. During that time, the countries we’re following used THEIR fossil fuels and – more to the point –- ours – to enjoy luxurious lifestyles!! We were the kids with our noses pressed on shop windows – looking in at their ostentatious debauchery!!
Don’t these woke folks who wanna halt our oil production think the countries that did the most damage to bring on global warming have THE responsibility to make it right?? Or even cut their own oil production?? Why hasn’t any of them stepped up to the crease to make us that offer we just can’t refuse – for our lost “opportunity cost” being proposed?? The problem with these “oil leavers” is they aren’t living lives of barely hanging onto sanity by their fingernails. And that’s so even though there’s a word for that condition – PRECARITY!! This, of course, allows them to ignore those who experience it – by ignoring the wages of “poverty” which is a slow, lingering death.
What the “oil leavers” who want justice should be doing is investigating the circumstances surrounding our oil contract signing. Have you ever wondered why there’s been that studied silence on that suggestion?? Now, that the fella who signed away our birthright and got away with murder – is back in the political realm as a big one in the AFC, the matter is now of national import!!
…with Cricket
Surely you don’t have to be reminded, Dear Reader, that your Eyewitness wears his cricket mania on his sleeves. “What do they know of cricket that only cricket knows?” asked CLR James. For us West Indians, its influence goes way “beyond the boundary” and indeed permeates our very soul. Your Eyewitness is sceptical of the loyalty of anyone who claims to be “West Indian”, but isn’t besotted by cricket.
And this brings us to the Test series our boys are playing over in old Blighty. We are, of course, in one of the interminable “rebuilding” phases since the 1990s. And to be honest, things don’t look so bright. After being humiliated in the first Test by England beating us by an inning and 114 runs!! – there was a brief hope we might pull off a win in the second Test after besting England’s 1st inning 416. It was not to be…
Wish our PLAYERS could rally round the WI in the 3rd Test!
…with the Teachers?
The streets are getting to be dangerous places. So, your Eyewitness is happy the teachers came off them. But with the Govt responding to the GTU’s demand for 39% and 35% hikes with 7% and 6%, is going back in August an option??
