We are still divided when it comes to protecting our national patrimony

Nov 01, 2023 Features / Columnists, Peeping Tom

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Kaieteur News – A protest action was called last week to demand the oil companies operating in the Stabroek Block surrender the 20% of its oil blocks in accordance with the law. Those carrying out the protest are fearful that if the oil companies are allowed to hold on to these blocks, they will use the time to survey the entire Stabroek Block and then to hand back to Guyana unproductive areas.

On the other hand, if Guyana reclaims its 20% of the Stabroek Block, it can be put out to auction and earn billions of dollars in the process. That money can be used to double the salaries of public servants, nurses, teachers, and members of the disciplined services.

Even though the protest was poorly advertised, it did attract many vociferous protestors. It shows that the Guyanese people are aware of the many shortcomings and betrayals in the management of the oil and gas industry and that more of them are willing to come forward and take a stand.

Presently, were the government and the Opposition to call a protest, the acts of provocation by Venezuela, it would be the biggest protest in the history of the country. Tens of thousands of Guyanese are likely to turn out even though the threat of a Venezuelan invasion currently is remote because of the situation in that country.

Persons have asked how it is that Guyanese can be so united against Venezuela but so divided when it comes to the oil contract. They have pointed to the fact that booth situations are tied to oil. Venezuela is raising the ante over its claim to Essequibo precisely because of the oil discoveries in the Stabroek Block which most Guyanese are now convinced was handed to the oil companies through a lopsided and disadvantageous agreement.

It is a contradiction that Guyanese can rage against Venezuela’s claim to our national patrimony but refuse to do so against the oil companies that are raping this patrimony and shortchanging Guyana is the process.

The reason why more Guyanese are not taking to the streets over the oil deal is because of local political divisions. The PPPC supporters believe if they protest the failure of their party to renegotiate the oil deal, it strengthens the hand of the Opposition APNU+AFC which attempted to benefit from rigged elections in 2020.

The Opposition supporters on the other hand are reluctant to protest because the Production Sharing Agreement was signed by their government. They fear that by protesting this would amount to a denunciation of the APNU+AFC.

Politics in Guyana has been reduced to a zero-sum game. Anything that is construed as benefitting the government is shunned upon by Opposition supporters and vice versa.

A second reason for the fact that the turnout at the protests is not larger is because the organizer/s have not done enough in building alliances. These protests actions are merely ad hoc exercises and have not the result of seeking to establish a strong movement. Part of the problem with building a strong movement is that different actions have different objectives: the environmentalists are concerned with protecting the country from an oil spill; then there are those who want to see greater transparency and accountability. Another group is interested in having greater inclusionary democracy. Glenn Lall is interested in a better deal through renegotiation. Ray Daggers wants the same.

Yet there is no reason why these disparate groups and individuals cannot find common ground. The environmentalists should join the protests because it is part of a fight for renegotiating the oil contract to guarantee full liability protection. The transparency activists should recognize the link between their struggle for transparency and accountability and the protests for information about the interest rates that are being applied to the investments in the oil and gas sector, and for greater disclosure terms in a renegotiated contract. Those which to see greater inclusionary democracy are not being inclusive when they stay away from protests which aligns with their own aims.

As Glenn Lall has said repeatedly, when the oil companies come into your country, they set out to keep the people divided while they loot the country. It therefore plays into the hands of the oil companies when the movement for renegotiation is divided into different camps.

The next protests must be better advertised and organized; there must be wider mobilization and all the disparate groups should come together and define the terms of the protests so that nothing is said or done that does not find consensus among the various groups and individuals.

(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions and beliefs of this newspaper and its affiliates.)

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• National, patrimony, Peeping Tom, Stabroek Block, surrender

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