The Raphael Trotman papers revelations

Jul 10, 2023 News, The GHK Lall Column

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Hard truths…

Kaieteur News – Raphael Trotman has written.  He has spoken.  It is both a mouthful and a full book.  It is good that he has broken the deafening silence.  Air passages need to be cleared; ear canals would benefit from some cleaning, too.  First, the reactions, then my own take on this public ventilating into the jagged shoals of Guyana.  If Guyana was on steroids before, oil converted all Guyanese (vaccinated) into first-rate downhill skiers.  Guyanese race ahead on steroids, boosted by crack, reinforced by 100-proof high wine.

Some Guyanese think Mr. Trotman is shameless.  Others see only that he wiggles out of any role and responsibility.  Still more conclude that he sold himself and shafted us to the end of time.  He must face the nation some more, in person, and take his licks.  To beat him into a pulp, then sawdust, smartly serves the PPP Government’s interests: keep the lasers on him, incite the scalpels to slash.  These contribute powerfully to channel any energy or fury at the inaction of the judicious Dr. Jagdeo and the absentee Professor Ali for any holdups with doing right by Guyana.  Though Guyana is subject to continuous holdups by an unmasked Exxon, the idea is to pummel Mr. Trotman, never let him off the hook, or to forget what he did. First, bludgeon his head, scalp him, and then give him his head to remind him of his failures.  It has been that kind of feeding frenzy with the water stormy and bloody.  The sharks circle.

Quickly, when I say Professor Ali, I convey what is seen.  His Excellency makes the rounds, has now all but relinquished the fake, meaningless presidency that he symbolizes. Like Dr. Henry Kissinger, he a Harvard man and all, Dr. Ali is on his own lecture tour.  I wonder what kind of academic man our own mental and presidential maestro is introduced as.  Regardless of what anyone thinks of Professor Ali’s new calling and adventures, he has seen the fate of Mr. Trotman and, like the calypsonian, he ain’t ridin on that; not on that collapsible Great Adventure spinning wheel.

For me, the pages of the Raphael Trotman Papers confirm many things. The existential Venezuelan threat; the American Big Stick; the 2% guarantee that is 100% strong; the royalty and tax dollars, plus much more, surrendered for the insurance guarantee that Exxon gave from the inception.  It has something and nothing to do with the environment.  The something is this: don’t worry about Venezuela or the Dutch.  It is conspicuous how the former whistles in the wind, and waves sabers, but prefers conducting a phony war against Guyana using more nuanced presences in the city, power at the border, plants in remote and city communities.  In a sense, Guyana had parent company guarantee before it knew that it did, but not of the kind clamored for now.  It was one that fused more than oil super majors to Guyana; it tied us to a superpower.  Go on, wanna fight now?  I still say that we pay a steep price.  Too steep.

As I commend Mr. Trotman for his courage in coming out of the cloisters, I note that he spoke of a senior oil official coming here and things coming to a head, which made it absolutely necessary that the deal be sealed immediately.  The foreign visitor laid card on the table: we pullout and not even God will help Guyana.  Things can be arranged over there.  Then, the oil was proven, known.  Who was going to hold back whom?  Or who instigates whom?  I believe corporate blackmail was involved in incentivizing things rapidly along.  Move they did, with Mr. Trotman signing on the line.  Now his head is on the line, with remorseless, unrelenting fire.  Moreover, when he signed, it couldn’t be the action of a maverick or rogue minister.  Though cabinet deliberations are stamped secret, its members were in the debate circle.  It would help enormously for former President Granger to step forward and assert that he was fully informed each step, and that he participated in the decision-making process, was the final decision maker.  Similarly, a word from a cabinet colleague, or several, would either uphold or undermine what Mr. Trotman put into the public domain.

Considering what he has said, I support.  It makes no sense for Mr. Trotman to venture unilaterally, and tie this country totally to that 2016 contract.  There is neither good reason nor any irrefutable logic for the former coalition to stand quietly and allow itself to be battered senseless for the one-sided contract, if was the sole handwork of Mr. Raphael G.C. Trotman, and not one soul more.  It would be the honourable thing for former President Granger and the cohort of former ministers to stand before Guyanese and confirm their involvement.

Though costly mistakes were made in the crucible of circumstances, many lessons were learned.  They are to the benefit of all Guyana, most presently the PPP.  It is my belief that Exxon did not deal honourably with Guyana.  We know what we have to do.  The question is whether we have the fortitude and fearlessness and fullness of manhood to do so.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this column are those of the author. They do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of Kaieteur News.

 

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• Dr. Jagdeo and the absentee Professor Ali, Mr. Trotman, Quickly, Raphael Trotman, when I say Professor Ali

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