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‘Relationship between oil companies & Govt. a disrespect to Guyanese’ – Civil Society Activists tell UK media house
Kaieteur News – As US super major, ExxonMobil strengthens its foothold in Guyana with more projects being sanctioned in the Stabroek Block, the company’s relationship with the government of Guyana has become disrespectful to Guyanese, according to former President of the Transparency Institute of Guyana Inc (TIGI), Frederick Collins.
Civil society activist, Elizabeth Deane-Hughes
Collins in an interview with a British media house- The Guardian- said, “The relationship between the oil companies and the Government of Guyana is one of disrespect for the people of this nation.”
In the article published last month, ‘Guyana banks on future as a ‘new Qatar’ in high-stakes gamble over oil production’- The Guardian explored the country’s tremendous potential with the vast resources discovered offshore. Even with all the wealth discovered offshore, citizens remain skeptical about benefits from the resources and are instead concerned about the governance of the blossoming industry.
The former President of the local watchdog body told the global news organization, “The government takes the side of the oil company against the people, as has been seen in legal challenges to the way the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is operating.”
Collins and another Guyanese, Godfrey Whyte took the EPA to Court for failing to secure an unlimited parent company guarantee to protect the nation from the burdensome costs associated with an oil spill. The High Court ruled in May last year in favour of the citizens. It determined that the EPA had shelved its statutory responsibilities in exchange of a derelict and submissive deposition, leaving “Guyana and its people in grave potential danger of calamitous disaster.”
Former TIGI President, Frederick Collins
The EPA however appealed the ruling along ExxonMobil; the Guyana government though it was not a party to the initial matter filed to join the appeal but the Court denied its application. The government then approached the CCJ to appeal the decision and was added as a party to the case to fight against the unlimited parent company guarantee.
The Guardian reported that another recurring accusation is that the government disregards legality in infrastructure development projects.
Elizabeth Deane-Hughes, former Attorney-at-Law who challenged the legality of a Permit issued to Exxon for the Gas-to-Energy (GTE) pipeline project was also cited in the article. She fought against land expropriations for a gas pipeline project that would pass through her family’s lands. After legal action, the route of the pipeline was modified, but the clashes with the government left the impression that the state would go above the law to implement its project, according to The Guardian. “It’s all about the rule of law,” she says.
The British new outlet noted that it “repeatedly contacted” President Irfaan Ali, Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo and Prime Minister Mark Phillips to comment on the allegations, but none responded.
Similarly, President of ExxonMobil Guyana Limited (EMGL) the subsidiary of Exxon Mobil Corporation did not respond to interview requests.
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