With PNC/AFC supporters joining movement for renegotiation of oil contract, PPP in trouble now

Feb 21, 2022 Letters

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Dear Editor,

It was bound to happen. PNC leaders, one key union leader, and grassroots people are now openly joining the oil/natural resources renegotiation movement, and some were at the daily protests at the recent Energy Conference. All Mr. Norton needs to do is say he did not agree with what the former leaders of the party did, that he did not get any payoff, that he is his own man, that he stands with the working poor, and that he supports renegotiation so Guyana can get more money to make everybody happy. The Renegotiation Movement is not a PNC or PPP affair. It’s not about Black and Indian. It is non-partisan and open to all Guyanese who care about Guyana getting a fair share of its wealth. It is for all right-thinking Guyanese who feel that the contract signed by former PNC leaders was treasonous, and that the new Government not doing anything about it is equally treasonous. Calling for renegotiation does not mean that you hate the PPP Government or PNC. We just want our Government and Opposition to be unified. We want to empower and support them to urgently push for change of the contract for a better deal. The richest country in CARICOM should not have the lowest standard of living and lowest currency.
President Ali just said we have been the “second poorest nation in the Americas” for decades.
KN Radio has released a conversation making its way around social media where the PPP Presidential Candidate said if elected, they would “review and renegotiate” the contract that “Guyana is getting the short end of the stick.”
The interviewer said to the Candidate, “Two things – burning questions that are affecting people…we got 5 minutes and I need these 2 questions answered. People are asking these questions. The oil contract: Do you agree with the US$55 billion ‘Signed Away Global Witness Report,’ will you revisit the oil contract? The Presidential Candidate said, “We have made it very clear, that we can never agree. How can, how can, I don’t think any Guyanese agree with this. No Guyanese except the government that is defending it. We have made it very clear, that we have to go towards, we looking at these contracts, renegotiating these contracts, looking at contract management and all of these things. Everything we have to relook at because we have to ensure that our country does not get the wrong end of the stick.” Interviewer said, “Everything is on the table for review as it relates to the oil contracts?” Candidate said, “Everything is on the table, available for review and renegotiate.”
So now, the PPP, hanging by a thread of a one-seat majority but behaving as if it won all the parliamentary seats as their friend Mottley did, has some big spin to put on to explain why it promised the voters it would “review and renegotiate,” but behind the voters’ backs, it had vowed it will not. Did the PPP deliberately engaged in “bait and switch?” Does the PPP think the masses are asses and they can get away with that? Is it a case where the President believes in “review and renegotiation” but the Vice President of all things does not?
While the PNC’s Mr. Trotman committed the original sin, the new sin of the PPP doing nothing is worse than the original sin. Why is the PPP not holding a Commission of Enquiry to find out how the contracts got signed? Why did the PPP who was in the Opposition not do anything about it?
Poor people who could not even afford the entrance fee to attend the conference, and looking for their next meal or money to pay their rent and light bills and water bills, want to benefit from our oil wealth. We can’t tell them as the church song says, “When you look at others with their lands and gold, think that Christ has promised you his wealth untold.” That will not work. Everybody is descending on Guyana to make money off our natural resources, while our Governments have ensured that we are scavengers scrounging for a living.
My friend Suresh said, “They had the Exxon bosses sitting there and none of them had the courage to mention a better deal. They know how to bully local people but were tie-tongued when they see the Exxon bosses.” The Energy Conference has come and gone but none of our leaders made mention of the oil companies having inadequate insurance coverage, ending flaring, protecting the environment, lack of ring-fencing, more time to audit accounts, Exxon paying all taxes, etc.
The Government should note that the foreign Conference attendees don’t vote. Those protesters do. It’s “Our wealth, Our Country,” and we must care. Stand up Guyana!

Sincerely,
Dr. Jerry Jailall

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