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Anticorruption advocates question …Has Greenidge become the new spokesperson for ExxonMobil?
foreign companies should also be subjected to detailed background checks—Greenidge in 2014.
On more than three occasions, Foreign Affairs Minister, Carl Greenidge, has expressed the belief that the disturbing behaviour of USA oil giant, ExxonMobil, in other parts of the world is of no consequence to its dealings in Guyana.
In fact, Greenidge now wants the media to take a step back from exposing the entity’s troubling past.
Several anticorruption advocates have found this stance by a Minister of the Government to not only be upsetting but inappropriate.
Chartered Accountant, Chris Ram, told Kaieteur News last night that Greenidge’s posture, when it comes to ExxonMobil begs the question, whether he is now the new spokesperson of the oil company? Has he taken over from Kimberly Brasington (Exxon’s Public and Government Affairs Director)?
Ram also said that Greenidge should be thanking the media for the job it is doing in informing the citizenry on the nature of organisations such as ExxonMobil.
He said, “Why doesn’t Minister Greenidge tell the London Guardian or the other media which have reported on ExxonMobil to back off? Greenidge is groveling at the feet of ExxonMobil and his statements thus far in support of the company are not only shocking but insulting to the citizens of this country.”
Kaieteur News is doing its job in informing the nation and Greenidge needs to understand what freedom of the press is all about.”
“In fact, he should be thankful to the press for all that it has brought to light about ExxonMobil’s behaviour around the world. If it weren’t for the press, we would not have even known about the US$18M signing bonus that ExxonMobil gave to Government.”
The Chartered Accountant also noted that there were many instances where this publication exposed the PPP and the manner in which it treated with foreign companies.
He said that Greenidge and others were happy when those exposures where being made; when the troubling past of some Chinese firms were being placed on the front burner.
Ram then questioned what could possibly make ExxonMobil so special.
The anticorruption advocate noted that organisations have a culture regarding how they operate and ExxonMobil is an American business.
Chartered Accountant, Chris Ram
Foreign Affairs Minister, Carl Greenidge
He said that Greenidge’s position on the company is out of order and it is inappropriate.
Ram also stated that if ExxonMobil has a problem with the reporting by Kaieteur News it should call a press conference or speak with the entity directly, not complain to Ministers as was previously reported.
PREVIOUS POSITION
When Greenidge served in the political opposition, he was quite outspoken on the issue of businesses being scrutinised on a regular basis.
On August 14, 2014, Greenidge noted that based on the abusive actions of BaiShanLin Forest Development Inc., most if not all foreign companies, particularly Chinese firms, should be subjected to intense, routine scrutiny.
Greenidge also insisted that the “abusive” behaviour of some foreign companies which are operating on Guyana’s shores, calls attention to the weaknesses of various agencies and ministries.
Greenidge expressed that apart from conducting these routine checks, foreign companies should also be subjected to detailed background checks.
“There are certain foreign companies which seem to only have one motive, and that is to grab all that it can from Guyana’s soil.
“Our country is being exploited in several areas and government (PPP) is not doing much to put controls in place to prevent this.
It is imperative that certain companies, particularly those Chinese investors be subjected to regular examinations.”
We cannot allow these companies to get comfortable and think that they can just abuse our systems without feeling the squeeze. GO-Invest and the relevant ministries need to take responsibility and play their part in this regard,” the politician asserted.
(SEE LINK FOR MORE DETAILS: https://www.kaieteurnewsonline.com/2014/08/14/bai-shan-lins-presence-in-guyana-underscores-need-for-chinese-firms-to-undergo-regular-and-intense-scrutiny-greenidge/)
EXXON SERIES
Kaieteur News had published a series, “What Guyana needs to know about ExxonMobil.” The series shares with citizens, crucial information on the operations of ExxonMobil in other parts of the world. To read more in this regard, check out the link here: https://www.kaieteurnewsonline.com/category/what-guyana-needs-to-know-about-exxonmobil/.
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