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Mar 03, 2018 News
While Minister of State, Joseph Harmon has categorically stated that the Guyana-ExxonMobil contract is “final”, there are several concerned citizens who are not only outraged by such sentiments, but rather, in complete disagreement.
Chartered Accountant, Nigel Hinds was the first to note his disgust with Harmon’s pronouncements.
In a detailed letter to the editor of this newspaper, Hinds asserted that an unconscionable contract can never be final.
He said, too, that upon reading Harmon’s comments in the daily news, he was overcome by several thoughts. In this regard, he commented, “President Jagan would have absolutely rejected this contract; President Burnham would have never given away our birthright; Walter Rodney would never go against the people. I felt betrayed and furious; what arrogance, how bull headed can we get; we are being treated like plantation workers.”
Hinds emphasized that Guyanese did not give any politician or party the right to dole out 6.6 million in oil-rich blocks, without sufficient compensation.
As such, Hinds said that whether the coalition administration assigned a Minister with plenipotentiary power to act on behalf of the Cabinet, it still requires approval from the Legislative branch, the budget process or some such similar mechanism.
The official said, “On what basis can Minister Harmon contend that the Exxon Contract is final; merely because Minister Trotman signed a Petroleum Agreement? It takes more than one stump to make a wicket. Can the President or his aide/Minister sign away any of our counties – Berbice, Demerara or Essequibo – to Exxon and say the Contract is final, without even having the approval of Parliament? And if they did have parliamentary approval, would that make it legal and proper?”
The Chartered Accountant opined the coalition party is caught running downhill; afraid to stop for fear of falling or admitting errors.
Hinds stressed that while he understands that politicians are inherently spokespersons for the inner power core of the political parties, it appears that the core is prostrating to Exxon, Guyana’s new overlords.
With the aforementioned in mind, Hinds said, “We the people must push, force, request and petition our political leaders to come out and speak with certitude and in an unfettered manner for the contract to be renegotiated.”
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