Disasters of the oil industry unfolding in Guyana- Glenn Lall

Mar 16, 2025 News

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…politicians failed and refused to act

Kaieteur News- Since Guyana discovered oil and became a producer, this newspaper has been at the forefront of calls for better management of the sector. Beyond its advocacy for improved management, Kaieteur News has warned the politicians and country at large, of the disasters that can befall this nation. These warnings were not paid heed to and today, these very disasters are unfolding in the country.

This was recently highlighted by Kaieteur News Publisher, Glenn Lall, on his Friday evening radio programme, aired at 7:20 PM on 99.1 and 99.5 FM.

Collapse of fishing industry

The businessman pointed out that this newspaper repeatedly published stories from the various Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) conducted by ExxonMobil for its oil projects, where the company explained the impacts on the marine sector.

“Today, fishermen are going out for days and can’t even catch enough fish to pay for the ice, much less the gasoline. So, we now importing fish from Jamaica and other countries that only the rich and powerful can afford, with no compensation from ExxonMobil,” Lall said.

Farming

The businessman also believes that locally grown fruits and vegetables which were once produced in abundance are also facing challenges. “Crops are drying up, fruits and ground provisions are weak, stunted, and full of diseases. Bananas, oranges, watermelon, tomatoes, cabbage—all being imported from Brazil, Suriname, and elsewhere! Imagine this—Guyana, the land of fertile soil and fresh water, now importing fruits, greens and vegetables,” the Publisher told listeners.

Livestock

Still on agriculture, Lall recalled that he warned about the impact on animals four years ago, which he believes is now evident. He said, “Since then, you can’t find a chicken or duck over four pounds—they can’t grow, they can’t breathe. What are we left with? Scrawny, sick-looking fowl and ducks, limping around like if they got polio. The same thing is happening with the goats, sheep, and cows.”

Infrastructure

Shifting his attention to the increased expenditure on infrastructure, the businessman reminded listeners that he cautioned that the country’s roads and bridges were not designed to withstand overweight vehicles that service the oil industry.

Today, Lall pointed out that the roads are collapsing faster than the oil profits can patch them.

No accountability for spending oil money

“We warned you about the new oil law Bharrat Jagdeo and Ashni Singh passed in 2022. I left my home on Christmas Day to warn Guyana that this law would allow them to spend our oil money however they like, without accounting for a single cent. Now it’s happening before our eyes,” the advocate argued.

He explained that a Member of the Natural Resource Fund (NRF) Investment Committee, Terrence Campbell, has since filed legal action while government views this as a “nuisance”.

Lall said, “Money is leaving the account, and they don’t even know where it is going. When he (Campbell) spoke up and spoke out, Jagdeo ridiculed him, and went as far as to say he (Jagdeo) doesn’t have to tell the nation how he spends our oil money.”

Gas-to-Energy disaster

“From day one, I called this project a dead donkey—a debt trap for Guyana! Jagdeo is hiding the project documents, refusing to show the nation how it will cut electricity bills in half. Now, one of the contractors move to the international courts, fighting for US$50 million, and the project hasn’t even started properly as yet!  Three delays already so far, lawsuits incoming and Guyana is still in the dark about this mega-debt project,” the newspaper Publisher said.

Environmental destruction

Kaieteur News previously reported on the dangers associated with the flaring of natural gas and today, citizens struggle with unbearable heat. Lall said Guyanese are now forced to walk around with fans in their faces, while children are fainting in the classrooms.

He was keen to note that, currently, ExxonMobil only has three projects in operation, as he questioned the fate of Guyanese after the company commences production at its other planned developments.

“We also exposed the tsunami risk in ExxonMobil’s own documents. If a tsunami hits, Guyana is done with. But Jagdeo and Norton? Silent. Not a single emergency plan in place,” he argued.

Ring-fencing

Despite highlighting the advice of a number of institutions that advised this country to ring-fence its oil projects, the politicians here have failed to implement this provision to ensure the country benefits from the wealth generated from its resources early on.

Lall believes Guyana lost as much as US$20B, so far, by failing to ring-fence the Stabroek Block projects. He said, “Jagdeo cussed out the PNC for failing to put ring-fencing in place for the first two projects, then did the exact same thing with 4 others! Brazil’s officials said Guyana sold its oil like a cheap prostitute; Suriname’s oil boss mocked us with that deal and Trinidad’s Prime Minister in waiting came till here to tell us that we can renegotiate our oil contract.”

In conclusion, Lall urged Guyanese that the resources belong to the citizens of this country, yet the leaders treat them like a “blind beggar at the gate.”

He noted that government failed to procure independent meters to verify the volume of oil being produced daily by Exxon and new projects will continue to be approved with those same terms although changes can be made. Lall was keen to note that it is Guyanese who will ultimately pay the price.

(Disasters of the oil industry unfolding in Guyana- Glenn Lall)

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• agriculture, disasters, Glenn Lall, livestock, oil, roads

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