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Guyanese and their wealth
Editorial…
Kaieteur News- Last week, the Vice President said that Guyanese are “stupid”. The oil companies’ bosses must have had a good laugh at that statement or nodded in approval, for after all, they have Guyanese and their leaders exactly where they want them with this oil wealth of ours.
To add insult to injury, some of our citizens have remained passive in the face of this giveaway, contented with the weekly diatribe that comes out of Freedom House and the occasional vacuous statements by our leader about the sector. It is worth repeating here that back in 2022, a survey conducted by the International Republican Institute (IRI) revealed that 98% of citizens sampled know little, or know far from enough, about this oil that is ours. With due allowance for polling error, and whatever biases and foundations went into the structure and objectives of that poll, it is of numbers that condemn citizens of this oil-rich society in the worst way possible. Why don’t we know more about this oil? How could Guyanese be so negligent with what is their wealth? What is it that makes this vast number of citizens so nonchalant about what could be a great blessing for this nation, most likely its biggest ever, that they are in this state?
From the IRI poll, it was gathered that locals either don’t know, have little interest in knowing, or don’t even care to know at all, notwithstanding the huge possible upside for the destiny of this country. Clearly, we are living the truth of that old saying that a horse can be taken to the water, but it can’t be forced to drink. We say this because, as is well known by now throughout Guyana, and even farther afield, this publication has blazed a trail in providing relevant and vital information about just about every development related to this oil from the inception. Without delving too long and too much into our role, let it be said that it has not been limited to this newspaper alone, but radio and other communication channels have also been taken advantage of to put a constant stream of information before our fellow citizens. Therefore, it was more than startling to learn at the time that many Guyanese were this lost, this indifferent, due to them being “unaware as to where they could access information relating to how government will be spending profits gained from the country’s oil reserves.”
As we said to our leader yesterday, Guyanese have to get one thing in their heads. The only time they have value, have any standing that calls for recognition by political leaders is during elections seasons. This is when they are courted and wooed, and the one time when they represent something. All other times, they are nothing but doormats to be used for wiping the feet of leaders and ministers. The quicker citizens of this country get used to that reality, the better off they will be, the more they will be able to cushion their disappointments when their hopes are dashed.
The PPP Government has tried at every opportunity to hoodwink citizens about the management of the oil sector- painting a picture of an administration in control and when this fails, blames the APNU+AFC Coalition for signing the lopsided contract, notwithstanding, while in opposition, it had fiercely opposed the deal and promised the electorate that it will change it once elected. Today, one of the biggest cheerleaders of the ExxonMobil contract is the PPP/C led by its General Secretary, Jagdeo. As Vice President, Jagdeo has walked back on his declared intention, when in opposition, to renegotiate the Production Sharing Agreement. Instead, he has attached new terms to a new contract, but as we have pointed out before, no production is taking place outside of the Stabroek Block, so his new PSA does not alter the balance in Guyana’s sovereign wealth fund. Guyanese must continue to demand a change to this exploitative oil contract. It is time we ensure that our oil wealth benefits us, the people of Guyana today, and not just ExxonMobil, their shareholders and a select few in the political arena. Let’s not wait until it’s too late. The time to act is now.
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