Before the cock crew twice, PNC’s Norton denied renegotiation thrice

Apr 13, 2022 Letters

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Dear Editor,

It is quite sad that incoming Opposition Leader of the PNC Mr. Norton is running like hell from the “R” word – “RENEGOTIATION.”It seems an unwise thing to do. Some PNC/AFC leaders and some PNC unions have said they support renegotiation, and were in recent protests at the Energy Conference. It’s only a matter of time that PNC members catching hell will agitate for the PNC to fight for renegotiation. If Mr. Norton is unable to support renegotiation, who can stop PNC members from supporting any emerging Third Force. The new Civic Society group “Our Wealth, Our Country” is helping to fuel the momentum towards renegotiation. You would think Mr. Norton would be astute enough to join the renegotiation bandwagon. When the hash tag says “Never Again PNC,” if the PNC is not repenting of this unpardonable sin and fighting for renegotiation of the worst oil contract signed in the history of the oil industry, what will be its agenda? As a serial rapist of elections, a repeat offender in the rigging of elections in full view of a watching world, what else does the PNC have to offer the people of Guyana if it will not seek to atone for its great sin against the nation in selling out the national oil patrimony?

Is Mr. Norton now sealing the PNC’s fate and paving the way for a new Third Force to emerge to replace both major parties? Apparently, both PNC and PPP will not call for renegotiation lest they annoy Exxon and any political friends they think Exxon may have in Washington? (I am not sure how many friends Exxon has in Washington now since the Democrats took over and summoned them to early hearings. Last Wednesday, the House Subcommittee on Commerce and Energy hauled in five oil companies and grilled them in a six-hour hearing with concerns that American customers were paying higher prices for oil while oil companies were making huge profits. The Exxon head said, Exxon made US$15 billion in profits in 2021, and Guyana was cited in his comments).

Mr. Norton must not miscalculate to think the people of Guyana and its own destitute supporters are going to sit back and be poor forever, living pay cheque to pay cheque, while they see the oil companies, the business class and friends of the politicians on both sides living “large” on our oil wealth.

Mr. Norton may not have been involved in the PNC’s bad decision to sign a bad contract and he may not have been the one who secretly promised the Exxon head during the election that they will not renegotiate the oil contract, but he can be the one to lay the blame where it belongs, and help the PNC to “go and sin more.” A full, unqualified support for renegotiation would have inspired new confidence in the PNC, which now has nothing else to offer the nation other than its nuisance value and comedic relief in some of its actions.

While Norton runs away from the word ‘renegotiation,’ he said he backs oil contract adjustment for more benefits. Norton said he did not say he backs calls for ‘renegotiation of oil contract’ in his interview with KN. “Nowhere in the interview did I say that. What I did say was, that the law provides for action to be taken to ensure that the people of Guyana benefit from our resources, and that the contract provides for changes to be made in keeping with Article 31.2 of the Agreement and that the PNC will do everything within the confines of the law to ensure our people get increased benefits from the oil and gas sector.”

When Norton appeared on Globespan in January 2022, Mr. Norton was asked, “Are you satisfied with the contract we have in oil and gas?” The first words he uttered were, “I believe in the sanctity of contract…I also believe there are a number of loopholes that we can close and ensure our people benefit…” If you look at the USA… they want them (oil companies) to pay taxes… We should be in the same position…but we can do that without getting into a fight. As presently structured, I am not seeing the evidence that a wide cross section of Guyanese are benefitting.”

Mr. Norton needs to explain whether he believes in “sanctity of contracts” that seems to violate Guyana’s laws and was shrouded in secrecy by his party, or whether he would admit to the PNC’s biggest sin and do all it takes to support the Government and give it leverage to engage Exxon and friends for a better deal. What does the PNC have to lose? Does the PNC believe if it stays silent on renegotiation, somehow, by some magic, they will be favoured by American interests over the PPP in 2025?

It’s our country and our wealth and New Leader Mr. Norton would do well to undo the evil committed by the PNC against the poor people of Guyana. “Renegotiation” is not a cuss word, Mr. Norton. It might be the thing to save the PNC!

Sincerely,

Dr. Jerry Jailall

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