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Dr. Randolph Persaud Promoting Exxon

Aug 07, 2023 Letters

Dear Editor,

Kaieteur News – I had just read a BBC article (https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-66406137.amp) forwarded to me by Paul Tennassee regarding the recent Niger coup. The article relates the impact of colonialism and the continuation of neo-colonialism in the Francophile African nations – the hemorrhaging of the natural resources, the creation of local corrupted elites, and the persistence of poverty in the general population. The era of skewed parasitic relationship was prevalent in all of Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean. And it continues in different guises with “neocolonialist, condescending, paternalist and vengeful policies”.

Then I read a letter in KN & SN arguing “that Exxon is Guyana’s new slave master is baseless” written by Dr. Randolph Persaud. Essentially, this writer favours those who exploits and plunders the natural wealth of Guyana (akin to what was/is happening to the countries aforementioned). This is precisely modern-day imperialism where “investors” rake in huge profits and neglect to “drain the swamps”. The professed scholar Dr. Randolph Persaud discusses Exxon’s Oil as a mere commodity where profits have to be maximized. In the meantime, he forgets the 2% oil contract. His friends in the PPP had condemned the former APNU for the bad 2% deal. What has happened since then? The PPP led by the local oil czar Bharrat Jagdeo has done nothing to make a difference for the better. Instead, Jagdeo appears to be a spokesperson for Big Oil!

But fossil (and all fossil extractives) are not mere commodities. Economic development (if there is any) must be weighed while acknowledging the symbiotic relationship with the ecosphere. One must quantify any disastrous fallout. Everything is connected. Dr. Randolph Persaud, indeed all of us, need to understand this. Being ensconced in the hallowed walls of academe, however prestigious this may be, should not give him tunnel vision or blinders. Dr. Randolph Persaud is credited as a researcher; therefore, he must or should be cognizant of the damning effect of climate change as a direct consequence of fossil fuel. This July is the hottest period in all of recorded history; the concomitants – fires and floods – are prevalent in apocalyptic scales throughout the globe, which can result in extensive annihilation or the collapse of habitats – and indeed civilization as we know it. Dystopian? Maybe, but reality cannot be denied.

Dr. Randolph Persaud is simply wrong. He, we, should not forget the wisdom of Chief Seattle: “The earth does not belong to man; man belongs to the earth. All things are connected like the blood that unites us all. Man did not weave the web of life; he is merely a strand in it. Whatever he does to the web, he does to himself.”

The great Guyana hero Cheddi B. Jagan in his early years recognized the inequality between “demda and abedese”, which spurred him to produce his opus “The West on Trial”. Dr. Jagan’s protégé have failed him; their understanding of dialectics sadly not as philosophical and profound as I thought! They are following the unwisdoms of a rotten system.

I am not privy to Dr. Randolph Persaud’s fiduciary position with the PPP. Is he doing pro bono work or are his coffers overflowing? My friendly advice, if I may, ‘think out of the box’ or listen to Mark: “What does it profit a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?”

Sincerely,
Gary Girdhari

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