Opposition, Norton and oil

May 31, 2023 Editorial, Features / Columnists

Kaieteur News- It would have been helpful if Opposition Leader Norton had given Guyanese something to grasp at, anything to latch their dwindling hopes on, even a little to cheer. Most regrettably, no such lifelines were extended and, once again, Guyanese find themselves in an oil boat to nowhere. It is a boat without oil, and also one without a paddle. To compound the plight of the Guyanese people, there is no shoreline in sight, and the oil waters are getting choppier.

The PPP/C Government, in the person of its Chief Oil Minister, Bharat Jagdeo, has planted its stake in the ground and there can be no mistaking the position: party and government, as led by Dr. Jagdeo, are on the side of Exxon, and too bad for the Guyanese people and their aspirations and dreams. As Dr. Jagdeo goes, so goes the PPP Government, with Alistair Routledge of ExxonMobil smartly cheering him on from behind the curtains.

The Guyana judiciary, small sections of it, has signaled that there will be reconciling of the requirements of the law against what ExxonMobil has done and delivered on the ground. Or how it has fallen short in material gaps that could hurt this country beyond calculation. It is likely that more Guyanese are going to approach the courts with their oil and gas grievances, as they seek relief from the combination of a draconian local and foreign regime that runs helter-skelter in the local oil arena. In raw predatory terms, the PPP/C Government and ExxonMobil run amok in the destructions that both wreak in this totally alien landscape called the nation’s oil and gas sector. The crisis is brought about by the fact that ‘totally alien’, (in many ways a situation akin to being from outer space), applies only to the Guyana side of this new, sophisticated oil equation. The mandatory knowledge base is not present, they must have a learning curve and has started out on the wrong foot and towards sinister ends, and the comforting familiarity that should instill confidence is more a wish than a reality.

Into this roiling and disturbing milieu, Guyana’s main Opposition dips the occasional toe, and upon experiencing the heat of the environment, quickly withdraws. One wonders whether it is in fright, or from some form of insecurity, or some constraint known only to itself. The big question on the lips of Guyanese is about where the Opposition is with this huge, rich oil patrimony. It is more than a big question; it is the biggest concern around for many Guyanese. For, if there is not a sturdy enough Opposition at this time in the history of Guyana, then Guyanese are left to the tender mercies of the PPP/C Government, and the still gentler ministrations of American oil superpower, ExxonMobil. Based on past and present experiences, this is the worst nightmare for the citizens of this country.

All circumstances considered, Guyana needs a vibrant Opposition, and it starts with an Opposition Leader of strength, of dogged determination, and of a depth to a degree not seen here to now. Considering what came out last week, when Opposition Leader Norton took centerstage, those Guyanese holding their breath in expectation had better let them out. Only the weak, the pitiful, and the forlorn came from Mr. Norton in what was a tour de force of obfuscation and artful verbal construction that really did not leave anything of significance on the table for Guyanese.

The true local owners and shareholders of this oil were given straws to clutch at (“when we begin to do our election campaign”), and another dirty end of the stick to which to cling (“the right time to respond”). It is clear that not only Opposition Leader Norton is many days behind where he should be, but he and his group are way short of what is required, going to make a difference in this oil sector. Guyanese have a troubling question dangling before them: can they depend on the Opposition to stand for them with this oil? If the Opposition cannot find its feet, then Guyanese will have their heads handed to them by the PPP/C Government working alongside ExxonMobil to destroy their oil dreams.

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Alistair Routledge, Bharat Jagdeo, ExxonMobil, Opposition Leader Norton, PPP Government

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