A comedy of evasiveness starring Jagdeo                          

Jan 26, 2025 Features / Columnists, Peeping Tom

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Peeping Tom…

Kaieteur News- Bharrat Jagdeo, Vice President of Guyana, is a man who revels in the art of evasion. He delivers answers so roundabout they could qualify as scenic tours. At last Thursday’s press conference, journalist Dennis Chabrol dared to pierce the fog with a direct question: Does the Guyana government have a feasibility study for the Gas-to-Energy (GTE) project?

This was no philosophical inquiry. It wasn’t a question about the metaphysics of governance or the meaning of life. It was a straightforward yes-or-no question. But, true to form, Jagdeo responded with his signature dodge: “I answered that years ago.”

Years ago? Were we discussing gas or time travel? Is this a government project or the unraveling of a time loop where all answers exist in a nebulous past, perpetually out of reach?

Such ambiguity would be laughable if the stakes weren’t so high. The GTE project carries a price tag nearing US$2 billion, a sum that looms over the nation like an unpaid bill. And yet, we are told to accept the absence of clarity because, according to Jagdeo, “the numbers are so phenomenal that… we said we would do this from Opposition without even doing the feasibility study.”

Let that sink in: the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPPC) government didn’t even need a feasibility study. Why? Because the “numbers” spoke to them. These numbers, it seems, have mystical qualities, bypassing all rational processes and delivering their verdict straight to Jagdeo’s desk. The rest of us, however, are left scratching our heads. What numbers? Who generated them? Are they backed by evidence, or were they scribbled on a napkin during a late-night cake shop discussion?

Jagdeo was quick to pivot earlier to the EXIM Bank, which, he claimed, has already done the due diligence. But the EXIM Bank’s interests are not Guyana’s interests. Their financial “due diligence” focuses on the security of their investment, bolstered by a sovereign guarantee. For the bank, this is a no-risk affair. Whether the GTE project is successful or fails spectacularly, they’ll get their money back, courtesy of Guyana’s taxpayers. With a sovereign guarantee of repayment, they can approve financing the project with their eyes closed.

But what about the people of Guyana? What guarantees do they have? The absence of a publicly accessible feasibility study—specific to the GTE project—leaves citizens in the dark about the project’s true financial viability. This isn’t a small-scale venture where a gut feeling or optimistic projections will suffice. It’s a massive infrastructure project, and any misstep could burden the nation with debt for decades.

Governments have an obligation to conduct their own feasibility studies, particularly when national resources are at stake. Relying on external entities with their own agendas is not just irresponsible—it’s downright dangerous.

Let’s assume, for argument’s sake, that a feasibility study does exist. Why hasn’t it been made public? Surely, transparency would enhance confidence in the project. If the numbers are as “phenomenal” as Jagdeo claims, wouldn’t publishing the study silence critics and skeptics? The reluctance to do so raises serious questions about what the study might reveal—or if it even exists at all.

The people do have reason to be concerned about the possibility of Guyana stumbling into an economic quagmire. A feasibility study isn’t a bureaucratic formality. It’s a critical tool that provides insight into technical, economic, and environmental considerations. Without it, how can policymakers make informed decisions? How can citizens trust that this isn’t another white elephant project like the Skeldon Sugar Factory?

What’s most galling is the cavalier attitude with which Jagdeo dismisses concerns. His refusal to answer a direct question with a direct answer only fuels suspicion. If the government has truly done its homework, why not show their work? The Gas-to-Energy project is being touted as a transformative initiative, yet it’s being sold with less transparency than a secondhand car.

Jagdeo’s confidence in the “phenomenal” numbers is almost comical. It’s as if he expects the public to take his word as gospel, despite his track record of sidestepping scrutiny. Phenomenal numbers are meaningless without context, methodology, or verification.

This isn’t just a critique of Jagdeo’s handling of the GTE project; it’s a broader indictment of a governance style that prioritizes bravado over substance. Decisions of this magnitude require meticulous planning, transparency, and accountability. Anything less is a disservice to the people who will bear the costs—financial and otherwise.

The EXIM Bank’s endorsement might satisfy some, but it doesn’t absolve the government of its duty to Guyanese citizens. The bank is not responsible for Guyana’s economic well-being. Its due diligence serves its own interests, not the public interest. The government cannot hide behind the bank’s analysis while refusing to provide its own.

Until Jagdeo and the government provide clear answers, this project will remain shrouded in suspicion. Guyanese citizens have every right to demand better, to demand transparency, and to demand accountability. After all, it’s their money—and their future—that’s on the line.

In the meantime, Jagdeo might consider that famous quote, “If you’re going to make a joke, at least let everyone in on the punchline.”

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

(A comedy of evasiveness starring Jagdeo )

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• Dennis Chabrol, gas-to-energy, Peeping Tom, Progressive Party/Civic, Vice President

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