How about some peace of mind for Guyanese?

May 03, 2026 Features / Columnists, The GHK Lall Column

Hard Truths by GHK Lall

(Kaieteur News) – Where there’s darkness, nervousness roams. Where there’s uncertainty, anxiety hovers. Increasingly vocal U.S. Ambassador to Guyana, Nicole Theriot has ventured with ‘investors need peace of mind.’ I salute this version of the American ambassador.

Guyanese know where the U.S. government stands. No mystery, no second-guessing, no thinking necessary. Since the Guyana oil conversation-contract, good faith, partnership, representation-has been so heavily, dangerously tilted in investors’ (Exxon’s) favor, high time someone spoke for Guyanese.

Since neither Pres Ali nor VP Jagdeo, nor the Opposition to any great degree, has done so, that duty falls to a few Guyanese. Reporting for duty. All well and good for peace of mind for investors. I endorse. Now how about some peace of mind for the Guyanese owners of 11 billion barrels of oil? Peace of mind over whatever else that’s concealed from them, and inhibits them from knowing the full range of their national patrimony?

For starters, and for Guyanese peace of mind: in its haste to lock Guyana into a gouging, enslaving, lopsided deal, that exponentially enriched itself, did Exxon share with Guyana’s representatives, the whole Stabroek Block oil picture, as then known? Put differently, did Exxon withhold vital discovery information, re: the total number of barrels found prior to the signing of the 2016 contract? Frankly, did Exxon operate in good faith? From every indication, Guyana was operating in ignorance and trapped in darkness, which were deepened by its haste to execute a deal, and present a thrilling fait accompli to Guyana. Unconfirmed reports suggest that Exxon allegedly did not conduct itself according to Marquis of Queensbury rules. Nor what reflected American exceptionalism.

Second, for Guyanese peace of mind: what is the true level of proven oil reserves currently? With over a half dozen new discoveries announced, and Exxon’s own annual report sharing some terse details, why is Mr. Alistair Routledge doing his best Fred Astaire imitations to avoid giving a clear, upfront answer on how much oil has been found, so far?

A responsible and reliable (as proven) oil partner would be the first to say: no commercially feasible stocks of oil have been found; or this is the best estimate from those discoveries. It would end all inquiries and speculations, or any suspicions about possible duplicity on Exxon’s part. Because Mr. Routledge has been exemplary in the shaky and silky, Guyanese peace of mind has hemorrhaged.

Third, and harder pill to swallow, was the reaction of Exxon’s personnel on an offshore rig to Guyanese personnel.When Exxon’s people blocked auditors recruited by Guyanese to check on Guyana’s interests, that left a bitter taste. It stirred concerns about why Guyana’s principled partner, Exxon, had to double up, and what secrets it just had to hide? Trustworthy partners usually operate in an open book manner with all their other partners. Exxon’s other partners, CNOOC and Hess Corp (now Chevron) do not labor with severe information deficits. Why, therefore, partner Guyana, is dealt with so suspiciously, so troublingly?

This isn’t conducive to Guyanese peace of mind. Especially, when the memory is still bright (and burning) of the shenanigans surrounding that IHS Market audit that documented US$214 million in findings, only for that to plummet mysteriously to US$3 million. Mr. Routledge didn’t do Exxon any favors, when he weighed-in with a kind word for the scapegoat found to tie to that audit caper, Dr. Gopinath “Bob” Gossai. Nice job, Bobby. Nice friends as cornermen, Brother Bob.

Fourth, regarding investor “peace of mind” and “dangerous signal” and a “bad idea” from Excellency Theriot, those must be unprecedented. Can a Guyana ambassador do the same in the U.S.? Or anywhere else?

Peace of mind. Excellency Theriot broke her fast to share her piece. Investors must have peace of mind. It’s a two-way street, Excellency. Would mean much for Guyanese peace of mind, when clarity and honesty are forthcoming on my earlier representations.

(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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darkness, GHK Lall, Nicole Theriot, peace of mind

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