Exxon should prove it is not rapacious by developing recreational facilities for youths

Sep 02, 2022 Letters

Dear Editor,

Exxon could make a huge difference in the lives of our young people if that company was gracious.

ExxonMobil, having taken advantage of Guyana’s gross weakness in the negotiation of its oil contract, which has given that company the lion’s share of our oil revenues, can demonstrate that it is not as rapacious as Guyanese believe, by being gracious and give back to Guyana. One area which will earn the company much public admiration and appreciation would be its involvement in activities which benefit young people – Guyana’s future. A good place to start would be the development of recreational and sport facilities and infrastructure around the country for the benefit of the country’s youths.

Youths in Guyana are starved of recreational facilities in their communities. And in the absence of proper facilities, they make do with whatever is available by utilizing roadways and small open spaces in the villages to play cricket, football and basketball. There is therefore a definite and urgent need for the development and maintenance of recreational and sport facilities and infrastructure in every community. Its enormous importance to the benefit of our young people, although so obvious, still has not attracted the attention of the authorities for decades, and across all our governments, that one has to wonder about the suitability of the people we elect to political office.

In many cases the lands for the development of the facilities are available but they are abandoned by the authorities. In fact, in some communities, due to gross neglect, the plots of land earmarked for playgrounds are overgrown with bush and or sometimes used as cow pastures, while the youths in the areas play games on the street. The Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) in the areas which have responsibility for these playgrounds do not have the financial resources to develop and maintain them.

ExxonMobil could extend its graciousness by partnering with the NDCs to make a real difference in the lives of our young people – our country’s future. It is the least it can do for the people of Guyana, considering the multiple billions it is receiving from the exploitation of a poor country’s God-given resources.

Yours sincerely,

Dougla

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