One-sided, one-sided in every way imaginable

Jan 04, 2026 Editorial, Features / Columnists

(Kaieteur News) – Guyanese, with few exceptions, have known for about 10 years that the ExxonMobil 2016 oil contract was so one-sided in the company’s favor that Guyana would come out on the wrong end of the stick repeatedly. This is what has emerged in glittering terms for the US oil supergiant, while Guyanese creep and crawl to get their hands on the leftover crumbs. Recent news is that ExxonMobil has its eyes set on a windfall of US$25B in the next five years, with Guyana’s Stabroek Block featuring as a major contributor in the push for 5.5 million barrels of oil equivalents per day by 2030. The company has its visions set on that US$25B windfall, while in this season of peace and joy, Guyanese have their hearts set on a paltry cash grant, of which less has been said, since this year’s elections were done and delivered.

The leaders of ExxonMobil can program their minds for the further enrichment of tens of billions by 2030 from an increasing level of production from Guyana, high-quality, low-cost, oil. In the interim, the Guyanese owners of this great national gift are scrambling to see their way all year long, and with an even more difficult spirit during this holiday season. In fact, since oil has been discovered, the bonanzas that Guyanese have been expecting, owing to their right as owners-shareholders, have been part dream, part mirage, what have eluded them. The one-sided nature of the Guyana-ExxonMobil is so glaring, that its Chief Executive Officer, Darren Woods, can speak confidently of a US$25B billion windfall by the beginning of the next decade, while Guyanese will consider the receipt of GY$25,000 before the holiday, as a small windfall, but still a windfall to be grabbed at.

ExxonMobil can project into the future, with every confidence in its Guyana treasure. At the same time, rank-and-file citizens of one of the most applauded country in the world know that they are unable to put enough food on the table for their families. A windfall estimated for ExxonMobil, and nothing but woe and daily misery for anywhere between 40% and 65% of Guyana’s population forced to exist close to an impoverished condition. What can be more conspicuous and sickening in how one-sided that picture is? A picture that represents the true state of many Guyanese, who are frequently overwhelmed with reports that they are among the richest people in the world. It was once inspiring and exciting to read that on paper, but it has now proven so unreal to a great many citizens of Guyana that it is depressing.

The 2016 contract was one-sided as one-sided can be imagined. One-sided in its terms and conditions, and with results in the years since that are one-sided in how ExxonMobil has benefited handsomely, and Guyanese have had the breath of their expectations sucked dry from them. The management of this nation’s oil wealth has been a model of what one-sided is, with Guyana’s oil partner calling all the shots, and the elected of Guyana dragged along for the ride. How much say does the Guyana Government really have in its power over the nation’s oil, and how does that compare to the power of ExxonMobil? The two couldn’t be farther apart, with the likes of ExxonMobil’s Guyana Country Head, Alistair Routledge in the driver’s seat, and Guyana head of state, carried along as a passenger. As the president and the government go, so goes Guyana.

ExxonMobil can compute present profits and future prosperity in the billions with utter surety in the power of the one-sided dominance that it holds over Guyana’s oil. The Government of Guyana and Guyanese are busy going back-and-forth over a measly $50,000 or $100,000 cash grant. Five hundred US dollars (or US$250) per eligible Guyanese or family, should emphasize the one-sided monetary elements in the Guyana-ExxonMobil contract and relationship. Whenever CEO Woods speaks of the promise of Guyana’s oil, it is in a super confident manner. When Guyana’s president and vice-president mention oil, it is of men who are so labored that the sense is that they live in a fog. Whenever one-sided needed to be seen at its worst, Guyana’s oil is the best representation.

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Editorial, ExxonMobil, One-sided, Stabroek Block, US oil supergiant

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