U.S. Ambassador Theriot’s selective seeing

Apr 05, 2026 Features / Columnists, The GHK Lall Column

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Hard Truths by GHK Lall

(Kaieteur News) – People see what they prefer to see, then double down by selling that as universal, gospel.  Different ways are used to describe such standards.  Selective seeing, accentuating the positive, putting in a good word for a sidekick.  US Ambassador Nicole Theriot distinguished herself remarkably well by meeting all those descriptions, when she came out of closet and spoke generously, even excessively, for Exxon.  When CEO Darren Woods and Exxon Guyana President, Alistair Routledge, wished for a powerful voice, they got a good one in Ambassador Theriot.

Ambassador Theriot saw the bright, heavy, footprint of oil supergiant, Exxon, leaving a trail of beneficial footprints throughout Guyana.  She gushed, “In fact, I was just in Region One this weekend. I was at Shell Beach and in Mabaruma and in Imbotero and anywhere you look, you will see signs saying, at the bottom, it will say supported by ExxonMobil. They are doing incredible work all over this country.”  Congratulations, Ambassador, the eyesight is keen, peripheral vision is sharp.  From education benefits to sports sponsorships to assistance for community projects, and others, the name ExxonMobil gleams from generous contributions made.  When Exxon felt it was time for a non-Guyanese and supposedly nonpolitical salesperson, it reached for a star: Ambassador Theriot.

Ambassador Theriot bubbled over.  Exxon is into local culture – cricket giving a lift with a few dollars.  Exxon is into a brighter future for Guyana, by donating more dollars to the drivers of local destiny: students in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM).  And, when Exxon wanted to be held in good favour by Guyanese, there came a playground and a bus shed, and a community urinal to keep the environment pristine.  Some dollars here, more dollars there, and a bigger fistful of dollars elsewhere.  Hollywood legend Clint Eastwood made his name, left his mark, with Spaghetti Westerns and the help of director Sergio Leone.  American oil legend, Exxon, thanks to the glistening cheerleading of Ambassador-producer-director Excellency Nicole D. Theriot, is now rebranded as the best of heroes to Guyanese.  In recognition of Excellency Theriot’s magical gifts of taking the disastrous and making it lustrous, I am rewriting my last Will and Testament.  When that time comes that I must go, Excellency Theriot is the one to deliver the eulogy.  From ambassador to marketer to prized speaker in demand, few are the mortals that can compare, can compete, with the lady from Louisiana.  Go, Tigers, Go!

I am sorry, Excellency, but I must do my duty.  For what I came back to this country.  Not that I love America less… It’s just that inner command that must be obeyed.  Bluntly, Ambassador Theriot gave her best one-eyed impression.  She is a fine impressionist.  Her sight may be limited due to the effects of Guyana’s political smog, but she is not lacking in insight.  A million cricket bats mean nothing to destitute, distraught, Guyanese, who have just a scrap for their pot.  Millions for STEM is wonderful, a gift lauded.  Like the cheap whiskey given to Native Americans, and look how they ended up, and where.  A Trail of tears.  Excellency Theriot has to know how Exxon’s 2016 oil contract constricts and corners the majority of Guyanese into a place of pathos; but claims not to be too familiar with that damning, enslaving instrument.  Even more frankly, Excellency, there is some homework missing, some catching up on that degrading oil contract.

When many Guyanese can’t buy enough food, then buying clothes, filling prescriptions, and honouring their own monthly personal contracts (commitments) are guaranteed to be areas in which they fail miserably.  When there should be pride in being among the biggest producers of oil (per capital), there shouldn’t be the stalking, menacing companion of poverty.  There’s the real Guyana, Ambassador.  They are the people that Exxon and its partner, the PPP Govt, have disdained, disowned, dismissed.  The unfed and unclothed and undeveloped of Guyana.  So many buildings, so many projects, so many sponsorships springing up across Guyana, compliments of Exxon.  For every one sponsorship, one beneficial project, funded by Exxon, Ambassador Theriot, there are a thousand, a hundred times that, more Guyanese, who long for a proper meal on a consistent basis.

Maybe an apology is owed to Excellency Theriot.  Her Embassy handlers steered her only to the luscious sides of Guyana.  Her sight rested on what was bright.

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

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• GHK Lall, Nicole Theriot, selective seeing, U.S Ambassador

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