Protest for a better oil deal expands

Jun 26, 2022 News

By Davina Bagot

Kaieteur News – This past week the protest for a better oil deal expanded with more groups joining the call for a renegotiation of the lopsided contract Guyana has with oil major, ExxonMobil.
Vowing not to give in, unless the government heed to their calls, protestors moved their usual demonstration from the Square of the Revolution on Vlissengen Road, Georgetown to Houston, on the East Bank of Demerara.

An overseas based journalist speaks with the protestors at Houston earlier this week

Notably, a civil society group – Article 13 – added its voice to the call for a better oil contract. Taking to the streets on Tuesday, co-founder of Article 13, Dr. Yog Mahadeo, said the protest action is to specifically urge the leaders of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) to fulfill a promise made to renegotiate “the horrible” oil deal.
Mahadeo was joined by a group of concerned citizens who held placards and stood in front of the Ministry of Natural Resources’ Duke Street, Kingston, Georgetown office to publicly register their disapproval of the oil deal.
Simultaneously, a protest led by Kaieteur News Publisher, Mr. Glenn Lall, was being held in front of the Guyana Shore Base Incorporated (GYSBI) office at Houston. The location was chosen as the GYSBI location offers services to the oil companies operating in Guyana.
Prepared with their umbrellas to shelter from the harsh rays of the sun and furnished with bells to attract passersby, the protestors also took their demonstration to another level by adding a Guyanese touch- music. Those who could not use their voices chose to join the protest by using musical instruments in the forms of drums and shaks shaks during Friday’s protest.

Protestors continue their call for a better oil deal, adding musical instruments to their peaceful fight

The picketers held placards calling for “patriotic and efficient” leaders, as they believe the current batch has “sold out” their wealth to the oil companies. One protestor even sent a message through her signboard that “to suffer my children, you must first take my blood” as others on the picket line shouted that “ExxonMobil must pay its taxes!”
A Surinamese woman in Guyana was moved to tears as she shared that she came to Guyana three weeks ago and while listening to the Glenn Lall show on Kaieteur Radio she was touched by the messages. The woman who did not state her name said, “It brings pain to my heart to know that Jesus said that He will anoint our heads with oil and our cups shall run over. This is the moment that our cup is running over. What happened to the Guyanese? Who (will) stand up to fight for our oil to let our cups run over?” The woman stressed that the children in the land deserve a good breakfast everyday while adding, “God said in His word, He said if my people who put their trust in Him shall mount upon wings like eagles.”
She urged Guyanese that they are all eagles and must flap their wings on the oil companies to make them bow.
Meanwhile, Lall told reporters that the government seems to be more interested in the oil companies and their profits rather their people. He said, “Listen to the Vice President (Bharrat Jagdeo’s) press conference. He worrying about ExxonMobil shares rather than we shares. When this thing gonna stop? We need to shut down this country.”
Lall, who is also a businessman, highlighted that the meagre two percent royalty that Guyana is getting from its oil resource is being recovered or taken back by Exxon which is enjoying free spending too, since there is no monitoring taking place of the company’s spending before it hands Guyana the bills.
Another protestor called on other Guyanese to join the picket line, especially since the cost for basic commodities have increased while the country is barely receiving any revenue.
Earlier in the week, the picketers turned out in their numbers despite the rainy weather and clouds that hovered over the East Bank area.
The slow flow of traffic on Wednesday morning was supportive of the protest action, with drivers honking their horns to cheer on the protestors who stood in the rain to demand a better deal.
On Tuesday, an overseas journalist stopped by the protest and spoke with a few of the picketers who expressed how they feel about the lopsided Exxon contract.
The public demonstration had commenced in front of the Square of the Revolution (the Cuffy Monument) on Vlissengen Road, Georgetown about four weeks ago, prior to the renewal of the Liza One Permit. The protestors, back then, had called for government to use the renewal as an avenue to secure better financial returns from the oil sector. Since then, they have been unrelenting in their call for a fairer deal.